KATHMANDU, MARCH 4

Himalaya Airlines is set to operate the first commercial flights from Pokhara International Airport, two years after the airport's inauguration. The airline will commence flights to Lhasa, China, starting March 31.

In a press release, Himalaya Airlines announced plans to operate flights on the Kathmandu-Lhasa-Pokhara-Kathmandu route. A weekly flight schedule has been established to connect Pokhara with Lhasa.

The airline has already obtained flight clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) for operations to Lhasa. According to CAAN's Information Officer, Gyanendra Bhul, Himalaya Airlines has sought approval to operate its first scheduled flight on this route.

Similarly, China's Sichuan Airlines is preparing to launch a weekly Pokhara-Chengdu commercial flight starting March 18. However, the airline has yet to receive official approval from CAAN.

The expansion of aviation connectivity between Pokhara and Lhasa, often referred to as the 'Roof of the World,' is expected to boost the inflow of Chinese tourists to Nepal. Meanwhile, Himalaya Airlines currently operates five weekly flights from Kathmandu.