Pokhara Airport launching night flight from today

Pokhara Regional International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, will be launching night flights from today.

According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula, to date, flights to and from the Pokhara airport are available from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm and the night flight will be commencing from tonight.

With the implementation of IFR system by the airport, it is able to operate night flights. As Niraula said, the airport will remain operating 18 hours a day: from 6:00 am till midnight.

The airport has been in operation since January 1, 2023. The flight operation system was assisted by the Visual Flight Rules and in this system, weather conditions matter for operating flights. But the airport has switched to IFR system under which an aircraft is operated under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), making night flights possible.

Private airlines service provider Buddha Air prepares to launch the night flight at the airport. According to Buddha Air Spokesperson Dipendra Karna, they are preparing to operate Pokhara-Kathmandu and Kathmandu-Pokhara night flights from today.