UAE-Nepal travel: flydubai launches daily Dubai-Pokhara flights
Airline builds on 17 years of operations and rising passenger demand
DUBAI – flydubai has unveiled a new daily passenger service linking Dubai with Pokhara, marking a significant expansion of its Nepal operations and reinforcing its role in connecting high-demand South Asian routes.
The Dubai-based carrier will become the first airline from the United Arab Emirates to operate direct flights to Pokhara International Airport. The service is scheduled to commence on 23 September 2026, operating from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport.
The launch further deepens flydubai’s presence in Nepal, where it has been active for 17 years and continues to see sustained demand from both leisure and visiting friends and relatives traffic.
New route
Pokhara International Airport (PHH) becomes flydubai’s second destination in Nepal alongside Kathmandu, expanding access beyond the country’s capital.
The new daily service is designed to improve connectivity to western Nepal, a region increasingly recognised for tourism and adventure travel. Pokhara, located near the Annapurna mountain range, is regarded as Nepal’s primary leisure and eco-tourism gateway, attracting trekkers, climbers and international visitors throughout the year.
The airline has built a strong operational foundation in the country since launching services in 2009. Over this period, it has carried approximately four million passengers between the UAE and Nepal, reflecting consistent demand across multiple travel segments. Seat capacity on the Nepal route has also expanded significantly, increasing more than 12-fold since operations began. At peak periods, flydubai operates up to five daily flights to Kathmandu, underlining the importance of the market within its wider network strategy.
flyDubai network
According to senior airline executives, the new route is part of a broader strategy to strengthen point-to-point connectivity while leveraging Dubai’s role as a global aviation hub. The service will operate in codeshare with Emirates, enabling passengers to access integrated itineraries, streamlined baggage handling and single-ticket journeys across multiple destinations.
The partnership is expected to enhance accessibility for travellers originating from the GCC, Middle East and Europe, with onward connections through both airlines’ combined global networks. This expansion also supports growing demand for direct access to Nepal’s secondary tourism destinations, reducing reliance on Kathmandu as the sole international entry point. The move is positioned to support both tourism inflows and regional economic activity in western Nepal.
Flight details
Daily flights will operate between Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport and Pokhara International Airport, providing consistent year-round connectivity. The service introduces new travel options for both leisure and business passengers, with flexible cabin offerings across Business Class and Economy Class.
Return Business Class fares from Dubai to Pokhara start at Dh 5,000, while Economy Class Lite fares begin at Dh 1,900. From Pokhara to Dubai, return Business Class fares are priced from NPR 190,000, and Economy Class Lite fares start at NPR 91,000. The airline emphasised its focus on service quality, highlighting enhanced comfort in Business Class and a streamlined experience in Economy.
Bookings are available via the airline’s official website, mobile application, contact centre, travel shops and partner agencies. All flights are expected to operate daily from the launch date, further strengthening air links between the UAE and Nepal and broadening travel access to one of South Asia’s fastest-growing tourism corridors, with Kathmandu continuing to serve as a key complementary gateway for the network.