KATHMANDU: Dubai-based airline flydubai is set to begin daily direct flights between Dubai and Pokhara, opening a new international air link to Nepal’s popular tourism destination.
The new service will start on September 23, 2026, making flydubai the first airline from the United Arab Emirates to operate direct flights to Pokhara International Airport (PHH).
Flights will depart from Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport (DXB) and operate as part of the codeshare partnership between flydubai and Emirates.
The new route will be flydubai’s second destination in Nepal after Kathmandu. The airline has been serving Nepal since 2009 and says it has carried around four million passengers between Nepal and its wider network during that period.
flydubai Chief Executive Officer Ghaith Al Ghaith said the new Pokhara service reflects the airline’s continued interest in the Nepali market. He said the direct connection would support travel between Nepal and the UAE and provide another international gateway for visitors heading to Pokhara and western Nepal.
The airline has gradually expanded its services to Nepal over the past 17 years. According to flydubai, its seat capacity to Nepal has grown more than 12 times since it first started operations, with the airline operating up to five daily flights to Kathmandu during busy travel periods.
Sudhir Sreedharan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at flydubai, said the Pokhara service would give passengers more travel options and connect the city with destinations across the Gulf region, the Middle East and Europe.
He said passengers would also be able to travel through flydubai’s wider network through its codeshare and interline arrangements.
New international gateway for Pokhara
Located close to the Annapurna mountain range, Pokhara is one of Nepal’s most popular destinations for adventure and leisure tourism. The city is known as a gateway for trekking, mountain activities, nature tourism and travel in western Nepal.
The new direct connection is expected to make it easier for international visitors to reach Pokhara without first travelling through Kathmandu. It could also provide additional opportunities for tourism and business activities in western Nepal.
Under the flydubai-Emirates codeshare arrangement, passengers will be able to book connecting journeys on a single ticket. The arrangement also provides through baggage check-in and access to the combined networks of the two airlines.
Flight schedule
The daily flights will operate between Dubai International Airport and Pokhara International Airport according to the following schedule:
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZ 1165 | Dubai (DXB) → Pokhara (PHH) | 12:00 | 18:15 |
| FZ 1166 | Pokhara (PHH) → Dubai (DXB) | 19:15 | 22:00 |
According to the airline, return Business Class fares from Dubai to Pokhara start at AED 5,000, while Economy Class Lite fares start at AED 1,900.
For travel from Pokhara to Dubai, return Business Class fares start at NPR 190,000, while Economy Class Lite fares start at NPR 91,000.
The new service is expected to add another international connection for Pokhara and give travellers from the UAE and other destinations easier access to the city and the wider western Nepal region.