China's Sichuan Airlines has started regular commercial charter flights to Chengdu-Pokhara from Tuesday. With the help of Sichuan province, a narrow body ship carrying 128 Chinese passengers landed at Pokhara International Airport. The ship left Pokhara on Tuesday with 126 Nepalese passengers for Chengdu.

Government officials from Sichuan province, representatives of various organizations, media persons are participating in the team coming from China. They were welcomed at Pokhara Airport by Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chhan Song, Pokhara Metropolitan Chief Dhanraj Acharya, Civil Aviation Authority Director General Pradeep Adhikari and others. Chinese tourists were welcomed at the airport with luggage.  Speaking at the

welcome event, Ambassador Song said that it was a pleasure to see the first regular flight start in Pokhara three months after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli visited China. "The speed that China has, this is also the speed of Nepal," he said, "the Prime Minister here deserves thanks for making it successful." He said that the Nepal government should take initiative to open various air routes soon to attract flights to Pokhara from other countries. He said that the year 2025 is special as Nepal-China diplomatic relations have reached 70 years and Pokhara has also announced the year of visitation. 

Acharya, head of Pokhara metropolis, said that although there are currently commercial charter flights, he is confident that there will be regular commercial flights every week in the future. According to him, Sichuan Airlines has made a schedule for 10 weeks to bring tourists from Sichuan province. 1,250 Chinese tourists are ready to come from Chengdu to Pokhara. 

3 flights have been scheduled from Pokhara, including the one on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the Nepalese travelers who left Pokhara will return after a week at the initiative of the Metropolitan Municipality, Tourism Board, Pokhara Tourism Council. Chinese passengers who came to Pokhara will return to Chengdu on this ship. Next week, a team of businessmen will go to Chengdu under the initiative of Pokhara Industry and Commerce Association and Lekhnath Industry and Commerce Association. In the third week, a team of Pokhara's social organizations, people's representatives, and businessmen will go to Chhengdu. "Even after that, Sichuan Airlines is willing to operate regular flights," he said. The director general of the authority said that it has been proven that narrow-body ships can travel from Pokhara at full capacity. 

The team going from Pokhara to Chengdu is led by Acharya, the head of the metropolis. The team includes people's representatives, tourism professionals and others. Nepalese delegation went to China for 'Pokhara-Chhendu Flight Promotion and China (Sichuan) Sales Mission 2025'. The team will participate in commercial and promotional programs with various government and private sector delegations in Chinese cities including Chengdu, Luzhou, Leshan. A package of 1 lakh 26 thousand rupees has been made to go to Chengdu for one week. The package applies to Pokhara-Chengdu two-way ship fare and food and accommodation in China. 

Pokhara Tourism Council Chairman Taranath Pahari said that the one-week sales mission in China will be the longest so far. He believes that this flight will make air communication between Nepal and China more effective and will bring tourism promotion, cultural exchange and commercial cooperation to new heights. 

Mani Lamichhane, Head of Gandaki Provincial Office of Nepal Tourism Board, said that the Pokhara-Chengdu flight will provide easy access to air services at a low cost for travelers from central and western Nepal, as well as an opportunity for Chinese tourists to see the beautiful city of Pokhara. Air connectivity will play an important role in increasing the arrival of international tourists in Nepal by supporting the 'Visit Nepal 2025' campaign announced by the Chinese government and the 'Pokhara Tourism Year' campaign announced by the metropolis.