Kathmandu, Nov 7: China’s Sichuan Airlines conducted its second chartered flight at Pokhara International Airport, marking the eighth international flight at the airport since its opening nearly two years ago.

The Airbus A319 carrying 120 passengers landed in Pokhara at 2:00 PM and departed for Kunming, China, at 3:40 PM, according to Jasoda Subedi, Information Officer of Pokhara International Airport. While several chartered flights have operated, the airport has yet to see regular commercial flights.

Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated on January 17, 2023, and Sichuan Airlines conducted its first chartered flight on June 6, 2023. The second flight follows 17 months later.

This chartered flight was organized in connection with the upcoming “Pokhara International Mountain Cross Country Race”, scheduled for November 24-25, 2024. The event aims to strengthen ties between Nepal and China through sports, bringing Chinese athletes, representatives, and spectators to Pokhara.

The race, organized by Nepal Tourism Board, Gandaki Provincial Government, and Pokhara Metropolitan City, is being implemented by the Himalayan Tourism Forum. Support is provided by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, the Yunnan Provincial Sports Bureau, the Foreign Affairs Office of Yunnan Provincial Government, and the Silk Road Cities Alliance.

Chinese participants in the event arrived in Pokhara from Kunming on the chartered flight to take part in the competition under the slogan “Race for Shared Prosperity.”