POKHARA, Jan 8: Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA), now in its second year of operation, has marked a significant achievement by handling a record 1 million 23 thousand passengers in 2024. Although it is an international airport, it has primarily operated domestic flights, with efforts to introduce international flights still in progress.
The total number of passengers includes both domestic and foreign travelers. Of the 1 million 23 thousand passengers, 176 thousand were international, while the remaining 847 thousand were domestic travelers. In comparison, in 2023, the airport handled 905 thousand passengers, of which 125 thousand were foreign visitors.
In 2024, the airport saw 16,700 flights, a notable increase from 15,900 flights in 2023. Despite being limited to domestic flights, PRIA has seen an increasing number of air passengers each year, with a significant contribution from the tourism sector.
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"Pokhara is one of the most visited tourist cities in Nepal, and it ranks second after Kathmandu in terms of air traffic. If international flights become operational, the number of passengers will rise even further," said Jashoda Subedi, the airport's spokesperson.
The airport has been able to accommodate more flights due to its modern infrastructure. This includes the ability to operate flights during late-night hours, a flexibility not possible at the old airport. This became particularly important during the floods and landslides of September 2024 when air traffic surged, and the airport continued operations until 2 am. Under normal circumstances, however, the airport handles domestic flights until 8 pm.
Subedi said that the increase in air traffic is also linked to difficulties in road travel to Pokhara, especially due to delays in the completion of the highway construction. "With the road network in poor condition, passengers have increasingly turned to air travel, benefiting both the airlines and the travelers," she said.
Currently, Yeti Airlines and Buddha Air are the two main airlines operating regular flights to Pokhara, connecting the city with Kathmandu, Bharatpur, Bhairahawa, and Nepalgunj.
