An Airbus A321XLR in Drukair livery.
Drukair, the national carrier of Bhutan, plans to expand its network to Europe, Southeast Asia and Australia after signing an MOU with Airbus for three A320neos and two A321XLRs.
The airline intends to operate the aircraft from Paro International Airport (PBH), situated west of the capital Thimphu, and a new airport being built in Gelephu, a city located on the Indian border. The new aircraft will join an Airbus fleet that consists of three A319s, one A320 and one ATR 42-600.
“Our investment in these state-of-the-art aircraft underscores our dedication to supporting Bhutan’s vision of holistic and mindful development,” Drukair CEO Tandi Wangchuk said.
Drukair is headquartered in Paro and operates scheduled flights to destinations including Dhaka, New Delhi and Singapore. The airline is one of two carriers serving the Bhutan market, alongside Bhutan Airlines, and accounts for about 68% of the capacity offered from and within the country, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.
Gelephu—one of only four airports in Bhutan—serves the domestic market, with Drukair offering an 8X-weekly service to Paro. However, it is being redeveloped as part of a wider project called Gelephu Mindfulness City, envisioned to become Bhutan’s economic hub.
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