Dubai-based carrier flydubai has confirmed the launch of a daily direct service to Pokhara International Airport, commencing 23 September 2026. The flights will depart from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and operate under a codeshare agreement with Emirates, making flydubai the first UAE airline to offer nonstop connectivity to this Nepalese gateway.
Pokhara, long recognized as a hub for adventure tourism and leisure travel, sits at the foot of the Annapurna range and serves as a primary access point for trekkers and cultural tourists. The new route strengthens flydubai's presence in Nepal, where it has maintained operations since 2009 and has carried approximately four million passengers to date.
Capacity Growth and Strategic Expansion
With the addition of Pokhara, flydubai's seat capacity to Nepal has risen significantly. The airline now operates up to five daily flights to Kathmandu during peak periods, complementing the new Pokhara service. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, stated: “Introducing direct flights to Pokhara underscores our ongoing commitment to supporting free flows of trade and tourism between the UAE and Nepal.”
Sudhir Sreedharan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, added: “We are delighted to expand our footprint in Nepal with daily operations to Pokhara, offering our passengers more flexibility and choice across our network.” The codeshare partnership with Emirates allows passengers to book seamless itineraries and access a combined global network spanning over 200 destinations.
Pricing and Booking Details
Return Business Class fares from Dubai to Pokhara start at $1,361 (AED 5,000), while Economy Class Lite fares begin at $517 (AED 1,900). Tickets are available for purchase via flydubai's website and through travel partners. The airline expects the route to appeal to both leisure travelers and the Nepalese diaspora in the UAE, as well as to inbound tourists from Europe and the Middle East connecting through Dubai.
The launch aligns with broader trends in South Asian aviation, where carriers are adding secondary cities to capture growing demand. For context, Air Canada's recent announcement of Toronto–Ponta Delgada flights similarly targets underserved leisure markets. Meanwhile, Emirates' push for daily Berlin and Stuttgart services underscores the competitive dynamics in long-haul route development.
Industry observers note that Pokhara's International Airport, which opened in 2023, has yet to see significant long-haul traffic. flydubai's daily service could catalyze further airline interest and support Nepal's tourism recovery, which has been steadily rebounding post-pandemic. The route also complements Bhutan's recent efforts to attract high-value tourism partnerships, highlighting a regional push for premium travel experiences.
For travel professionals, the new service offers an additional sales point for Nepal packages, particularly for adventure and cultural itineraries. Tour operators and agents can leverage the daily frequency and competitive pricing to build customized trips combining Kathmandu and Pokhara. The codeshare with Emirates also simplifies connections from North America, Europe, and Africa via Dubai.
flydubai's expansion into Pokhara reflects a calculated bet on secondary city growth, a strategy that has paid off for the airline in other markets such as the Maldives and Sri Lanka. With Nepal's tourism sector targeting 2 million annual arrivals by 2027, the new route positions flydubai to capture a meaningful share of that traffic.
