Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Chinese carrier Sichuan Airlines is operating a chartered flight to the newly-built Pokhara International Airport in Pokhara from Chengdu on Wednesday.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) granted permission to the Chinese carrier to operate chartered flights on Friday. CAAN officials say the aviation regulator is in touch with the Chengdu-based carrier to operate scheduled flights on the route.
Sichuan Airlines will become the first international airline to land at the Pokhara International Airport which was inaugurated in January. The airline has been handling domestic flights so far.
Although domestic carrier, Buddha Air, has shown interest in flying to three Indian cities from Pokhara, the process hasn’t moved forward.
The airport was built using a $215 million loan from the China EXIM Bank and can accommodate medium-sized jets such as the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 757.
