Kathmandu, September 17
Nepal has opened the door for Saudi Arabian airlines to operate flights to its newly built international airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa following the final signing of a bilateral air services agreement between the two countries.
Nepal and Saudi Arabia signed the final agreement on August 31. According to Jayanarayan Acharya, joint secretary and spokesperson at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the agreement provides a legal framework for Saudi airlines to operate flights to Pokhara International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.
“We do not have enough aircraft, but they do,” Acharya said. “If Saudi airlines want to operate flights to these airports, this agreement now facilitates it.”
Nepal and Saudi Arabia had initially signed a bilateral air services agreement in 1999. Under that agreement, airlines from the two countries were permitted to operate services equivalent to 5,600 seats per week and 291,200 seats annually.
The ministry expects the new agreement to expand air connectivity between Nepal and Saudi Arabia while supporting the development of passenger and cargo services and promoting tourism.
It also expects the agreement to create additional opportunities for trade and investment and strengthen economic and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Acharya said the final agreement provides the necessary legal and institutional framework for designated airlines from both countries to operate regular international services based on established principles and practices of international civil aviation.ac
“Relations between Nepal and Saudi Arabia have been established not only at the government-to-government level but also at the people-to-people level,” he said. “Thousands of Nepalis are working in Saudi Arabia, which makes this agreement particularly important.”
New airports waiting for international flights
Nepal’s newly built international airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa are operationally ready, but the country has struggled to attract international airlines to operate regular services from them.
Nepal is also seeking to expand international connectivity as its two international carriers, Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines, do not have enough aircraft to significantly expand their networks, according to Acharya.
Nepal is looking to attract airlines from additional countries in an effort to expand connectivity and bring more international tourists, he said.
No Saudi Arabian airline currently operates direct flights to Nepal.
From Nepal, however, Himalaya Airlines operates direct flights from Kathmandu to Dammam and Riyadh, while Nepal Airlines operates a direct Kathmandu-Dammam service.
Nepal has air services agreements with 42 countries
According to data from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Nepal has so far signed bilateral air services agreements with 42 countries.
The government has also adopted a policy of expanding such agreements to strengthen international air connectivity.
Nepal signed an air services agreement with Switzerland in 2024 and with Rwanda in 2023.
