Nepal

The Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) formally started its operations with much fanfare on Sunday. 

This is the third international airport to have come into operation in the country after the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the new facility amid a ceremony in Pokhara. 

"The country's third international airport has come into operation in Pokhara from today, establishing international connectivity to the international sector," PM Dahal said. 

PM Dahal claimed he had pushed for the prompt construction of the airport through the Chinese Embassy and had a face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the matter.

"The operation of the international airport in Pokhara will contribute to the economic development of the entire nation along with that of Gandaki Province," he said, promising to initiate the construction of Nijgadh International Airport soon. 

"Air route is the most effective way for connectivity in a land-locked country like Nepal and the construction of Nijgadh International Airport is required."

He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, top leaders of different political parties, industrialists, and tourism entrepreneurs.

The Pokhara Metropolitan City and airport officials welcomed crew members and passengers of the first plane landing at Pokhara International Airport with garlands on arrival at the new airport.

The metropolis declared a public holiday to mark the occasion.

The airport's construction started in 2017 with Rs 22 billion in concessional loans and grants from the EXIM Bank of China. 

The China CMC Engineering Company got the contract to build the national pride project of Nepal, spanning approximately 3,700 ropanis of land.

Meeting airline transportation needs

With its 45-metre-wide and 2,500-metre-long runway, the airport fully meets the regional airline transportation needs. The runway is connected to the parking lots, hangars, and terminals by a 23-metre-wide and 1,200-metre-long taxiway.

With 10,000 square metres, the international terminal can handle 650 passengers an hour. The domestic terminal is around 4,000 square metres in size.

Due to the ongoing process for international flight operations, the new airport will handle only domestic flights for the time being, said Bikram Gautam, director of PRIA. 

The airport will be operational for 18 hours daily once it starts handling the international flights - slated for February 23, according to airport officials.

While larger planes will now start flying in and out of the new airport, the old airport in the city will also remain functional, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. 

The old airport will handle flights on shorter routes, such as Mustang in Jomsom and Humde in Manang and helicopter services.

Test flights started in late November 2022, with Buddha Air, Saurya Airlines and Yeti Airlines synching technical aspects of their aircraft with the airport's specifications. Almost all major domestic carriers have already set up their offices inside the new airport terminal building. 

The airport was handed over to the Nepali authority during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Nepal in April last year. 

In its congratulatory tweet on Saturday, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu said the construction of a modern international airport is the realisation of a long cherished dream of people in Pokhara. 

"This is the flagship project of China-Nepal BRI cooperation," the embassy spokesperson wrote. "Hearty congratulations to the government and people of Nepal."

The new airport is expected to provide uninterrupted domestic and international air transportation to the western region and open the region's natural beauty to world tourism.

Stating that the Pokhara International Airport is a matter of pride for the city, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City Dhanaraj Acharya said: "The Pokhara International Airport is not only the dream of the citizens of Pokhara but also the 'lifeline' of the entire western region of the country.

"The direct air connectivity with international cities would contribute more to promoting Pokhara."

The opening of PRIA has elated the tourism entrepreneurs and kindled hope that it would open the door to the prosperity of Pokhara.

"Pokhara is a major tourism destination in the country. The operation of the international airport will benefit the tourism industry further," said Pom Narayan Shrestha, president of the PokharaTourism Council.