A New Era in Connectivity: Pokhara to Australia Direct Flights

(POKHARA) Direct flights linking Pokhara to Australia could lift off as early as September 2025, with Sichuan Airlines moving through final approvals to run a Pokhara–Chengdu–Australia service on a single ticket. Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority confirms preparations are in motion, and airport officials in Pokhara say they are ready.

While the plane will stop in Chengdu, the carrier will operate the journey end‑to‑end, making it a “direct” service rather than a non‑stop flight. For Nepali travelers, that would cut time, stress, and extra layovers that now push trips past 20 hours.

CAAN Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul has said the regulator is in ongoing talks with the airline and expects to issue permission soon. Sichuan Airlines has already requested approval and is preparing to submit its first schedule. Pokhara International Airport’s general manager, Jagannath Niraula, says ground teams, immigration counters, and baggage systems are being readied for the launch.

At present, Himalaya Airlines remains the only carrier with regular international operations from Pokhara, mainly on the Kathmandu–Lhasa rotation.

Regulatory status and route particulars

The carrier plans to operate from Pokhara to Chengdu and onward to one or more cities in Australia under the same flight number or a through‑ticket. That makes it a direct flight, even though passengers will remain on the ground in China during the stop.

CAAN’s process includes bilateral coordination with Chinese authorities and review of airport readiness. As of August 28, 2025, officials describe approval as imminent, with the start aimed for September 2025.

Sichuan Airlines is Western China’s largest airline and has history in Pokhara. On June 21, 2023, one of its Airbus A319s touched down for charter operations tied to the Nepal–China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival. The company is now expanding from ad hoc flights to a scheduled international link that, if it performs well, could scale to more weekly frequencies.

The airport itself has pursued outside operators to grow traffic. Beyond Himalaya Airlines’ limited schedule, Bhutan Airlines has planned charter services to Paro in late September and early October. Airport managers hope the added movements will help stabilize staffing and bring more retail and ground service vendors back into the terminal.

What the route means for visas and travel planning

The new path simplifies trip planning for families, students, and workers moving between Pokhara and Australia, but it does not change legal entry rules. Travelers still need the right visas and should allow enough time for processing before buying tickets.

Key points and actions:

• Australia entry
  • Most Nepali passport holders flying for tourism, study, or reunions will need an Australian visa approved in advance.
  • Use the Department of Home Affairs guidance to choose the correct category and lodge online through an ImmiAccount.
  • Official guidance: Visitor visas – Department of Home Affairs
• China transit
  • Because the flight stops in Chengdu, check whether your route qualifies for transit without visa or if you need a transit visa.
  • Requirements vary by nationality, length of stay, and whether you switch terminals or flights.
  • Always confirm with the airline before departure.
• One ticket, one check‑in
  • As a direct service operated by a single carrier, checked bags should be tagged through to the final Australian city.
  • Keep boarding passes and any transit documents handy for inspection in Chengdu.
• Health documents
  • Carry standard travel health papers if required by the transit or destination country.
  • Airlines can deny boarding if your documents are incomplete, even when you hold a valid visa.
• Students and workers
  • Confirm your visa conditions allow overseas travel and re‑entry.
  • This is critical for holders with work time limits or study load requirements tied to enrollment.

Airport and regional impact

Pokhara’s first direct link to Australia is more than a new line on a route map. City hotels that rely on trekking seasons expect steadier arrivals, and families split between Nepal and Australia see a chance to cut costs tied to extra connections through Middle Eastern or Southeast Asian hubs.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, a single‑ticket option often reduces missed‑connection risk and can lower total fares when airlines price the through journey to match demand.

CAAN and airport managers point to the airport’s broader mission: Nepal’s government has long wanted to spread international traffic beyond Kathmandu to ease congestion and support regional growth. Regular departures to Chengdu and onward to Australian cities would:

• Help prove the field’s capability
• Sustain trained staff
• Draw service providers who had hesitated to invest while schedules were thin

Employers and sectors that stand to benefit:

• Tourism firms: better ability to plan group trips and guarantee arrival windows
• Exporters: time shipments to meet tight delivery windows in Australia
• Education agents: attract families preferring to avoid domestic transfers to Kathmandu

The benefits will depend on reliability at every step. Pokhara sits in a valley where weather can change quickly, and Chengdu is a major hub with slot pressures. CAAN says coordination with Sichuan Airlines includes contingency plans, gate assignments, and passenger handling for potential delays at the stop. The airline has experience running cross‑border services that hinge on smooth ground transfers.

Traveler experience and practical advice

Two features stand out for passengers:

1. The service is billed as direct because one airline carries you on a single itinerary; it is not non‑stop.
2. The projected start is September 2025, subject to final regulatory sign‑off and the publication of an official timetable.

Once the schedule is published, passengers will learn:
– Exact Australian city or cities served from Chengdu
– Weekly frequency
– Aircraft type

Typical passenger flow and tips:

• Check in at international counters, show passport, visa grant notice for Australia, and any required transit documents for China.
• Bags should be tagged to the final destination; ask for boarding passes for both legs when possible.
• If Chengdu requires a document check at the gate, staff will direct passengers through a controlled corridor before re‑boarding.
• Allow extra time in your plans during the first weeks of service as airport teams fine‑tune flows.

Students and families:
– Families sending students often face tight reporting dates and orientation weeks; a through ticket from Pokhara can reduce missed starts caused by domestic connections.
– Parents should carry proof of enrollment and accommodation in hand luggage.
– If a visa includes work limits, print the grant notice to show conditions at the border and to employers after arrival.

Travelers with reduced mobility:
– Book wheelchair or escort assistance when buying the ticket or at least 48 hours before departure.
– Pokhara International Airport staff can support movement from check‑in to gate and onward to the aircraft.
– In Chengdu, ground teams will assist with transit formalities and re‑boarding.
– Because the journey is operated by a single airline, assistance requests should carry through the whole trip — but confirm again at check‑in.

Fares, schedules, and final notes

Final schedules and fares will follow the formal filing. Expect prices to move early as demand settles.

Recommendations:
– Compare return and one‑way options.
– Check baggage rules for both legs.
– Read refund and rebooking terms carefully.
– Consider travel insurance that covers delays at Chengdu and keep receipts for any rebooking.

Important: The start date of September 2025 and all operational details remain subject to final regulatory sign‑off and publication of an official timetable.