Starting in October 2024, Druk Air, Bhutan’s premier national carrier, will begin flying to Dubai twice a week. This expansion comes as the airline is in the process of purchasing more airplanes and after adding more cities earlier this year.
Druk Air is Bhutan’s oldest and most trusted airline. According to their website, Druk Air began operations in February 1983, nine years after Bhutan officially opened to tourists.
History of Druk Air
Druk Air operates out of Paro International Airport, Bhutan’s only international airport. Since 1983, the airline has grown significantly. The land for the airport was originally farmland. Paro is known as one of the world’s most challenging airports to fly into, with only a few pilots qualified to land there. However, rest assured that all Druk Air pilots are fully trained and qualified to fly into Paro.
An interesting fact about Paro airport is that flights usually don’t take off or land after dusk. The airport also holds one of the highest safety standards in Asia, with no incidents of malfunction or accidents so far. Because the weather changes quickly, especially during the monsoon season, airlines may delay domestic flights for safety.
Number of Fleets
Druk Air currently has three Airbus A319s and received its fourth plane, an A320neo, in 2020. The A320neo is the largest aircraft in their fleet, with 140 seats, including 20 business and 120 economy seats. The airline also operates smaller aircraft, such as the ATR. The older ATR-42 500 was replaced by the newer ATR-42 600, which offers better visibility at night and in tough weather conditions.
With the addition of new aircraft, Druk Air is planning to expand its routes to destinations in Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Druk Air (Heli Bhutan) has also launched helicopter packages for scenic Bhutan tours.
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