Druk Air - Bhutan Airlines

DRUKAIR [Royal Bhutan Airlines] is the national carrier of the Royal Government of Bhutan, operating to seven cities in six countries.

The airline operates two A319

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Paro is the only airport in Bhutan which is located in a deep valley at an elevation of 7300 ft above sea level. The surrounding hills are high as 16,000 ft and approach into Paro airport is entirely by visual flight rules. Due to the difficult operating conditions, operations with the Dornier 228 caused many delays and diversions. With the growth of traffic and the expansion of flights, the need for a larger aircraft became necessary. After conducting numerous tests taking into account the difficult operating conditions the British Aerospace BAe 146-100 was selected and started operations in November 1988. Within a short span of its introduction the network of Druk Air increased to link Paro with New-Delhi, Bangkok and Kathmandu. From two destinations in 1983 today Druk Air operates from Paro seven times a week to Bangkok where five flights goes via Kolkata and two flights through Gaya (flights via Dhaka and Yangon are currently suspended), thrice to Kathmandu and Delhi.

Further, owing to much increase in the commercial demand, Druk Air and the Royal Government of Bhutan considered it necessary to upgrade the Druk Air fleet with newer generation commercial aircraft with increased capacity and performance abilities. The management thus, met up with compatible manufactures that could serve Paro airport and finally brought it down to two manufactures, Boeing and Airbus. After both having done demonstration flights at Paro International Airport, decision was finally made to purchase two Airbus A319. With the purchase contract agreement signed and payments finally made, Druk Air purchased and Airbus delivered two A319 in the largest transaction the country had ever taken. The final delivery of the A319 was made on December 3, 2004 and as of now, both the Airbus are operational.
Druk-Air is the only airline that serves Paro. So all visitors to Bhutan are initiated into the kingdom in its care. The flight into Paro is one of the most spectacular in the world. Whether flying along the Himalayan range from Kathmandu or over the foothills from Calcutta or Dhaka, each flight is mesmerising aeronautical feat and offers an exciting descent into the kingdom.

For Bhutan a landlocked country the importance of aviation is paramount to the development of the country in enhancing the economic well being of the people as well as fostering quicker communications in the fastest growing region. Druk Air is committed to bringing the world closer to the Land of the Thunder Dragon.