Ultralight resumes in Pokhara after eight months

Pokhara: Pokhara Ultralight Pvt Ltd has resumed ultralight in Pokhara after eight months.
The adventure sport was halted since eight months ago due to global COVID-19 pandemic. Pokhara Ultralight has offered a special discount on flying an ultralight aircraft in a bid to attract domestic tourists.

The scheme means to attract domestic tourists to the adventure sport at a time when tourism activities have decreased due to the virus, said Managing Director of the Pokhara Ultralight Company, Pom Narayan Shrestha.

“Resumed from November 11 from Pokhara Airport, four flights have taken place on a daily basis. We have focused on health guidelines against the infection,” he said, adding that Rs 5,500 is charged per person per flight.

The scheme has paid off. People outside Pokhara have been inquiring and booked tickets for flights, he said. Similarly, such discount scheme has worked in other adventure sports like paragliding.

Domestic tourists have been flooding to enjoy paragliding in Pokhara after the discount scheme, it has been said. At present, paragliding companies have decreased flight charge by half.

Avia Club Nepal first introduced ultralight in Pokhara in 1996. Four companies, Avia Club Nepal, Fishtail, Pokhara Ultralight, Heli Air Nepal have got licence to operate ultralight.

Now only Pokhara Ultralight has resumed the adventure sport, which is operational in only Pokhara under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.