Drukair

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Drukair — Royal Bhutan Airlines
IATA
ICAO
Callsign
KB DRK[1] ROYAL BHUTAN[1]
Founded5 April 1981; 43 years ago (1981-04-05)
Commenced operations11 February 1983; 41 years ago (1983-02-11)
Operating bases
CEO)[2]
RevenueDecreaseNu.2.8 billion (2015)[3]
Websitewww.drukair.com.bt
This article contains
Tibetan characters
.

Drukair Corporation Limited (

dzongkhag of Paro.[5]

Founded in 1981, ten years after

BAe 146-100 equipment occurred in November 1988, and, to meet increased demand, those aircraft were replaced in 2004 with five Airbus A319s
.

Drukair operates a modest scheduled flight network within the

Paro Airport and currently serves thirteen destinations in six countries.[6]

Paro Airport Terminal building

The airline also owns a small fleet of four Airbus A320 family jets, three A319 and one A320neo, and one ATR 42

turboprop regional aircraft.

History

In 1968, the

Druk Gyalpo, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck gradually began to open up the Kingdom from self-imposed isolation, and seven years after welcoming its first foreign visitors.[7][8][9]

Paro Airport is located deep in a valley 2,235 metres (7,333 ft)

above sea level, and is surrounded by mountains as high as 4,900 metres (16,100 ft).[10] At the time, the runway was 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) in length,[7] giving the Bhutanese government specific requirements for a choice of aircraft to be operated. They required an 18–20 seat STOL-capable aircraft with operating capabilities which included a high service ceiling, high rate of climb and high manoeuvrability. The major requirement for the aircraft was that it must be capable of flying Kolkata – Paro – Kolkata, a 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) round-trip flight, without refuelling, due to minimal infrastructure being available at Paro for this purpose. Three different aircraft types were considered after flight tests in India and Bhutan between 1978 and 1980; however, none was deemed suitable.[7]

In mid-1981, the

Paro Dzong.[7]

The airline inaugurated scheduled revenue flights on 11 February 1983, with Flight 101 departing Paro for Kolkata and returning the next day as Flight 102. For the first four weeks, the flight was operated three times a week, after which it was increased to a daily flight.

Department of Civil Aviation in January 1986, the airline was responsible for the operation and maintenance of airport infrastructure.[12] The airline commenced flights to Dhaka in Bangladesh on 30 October 1986.[13][14]

Summary of Drukair services between 1983 and 1987[15]
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987
Passengers flown 2,854 4,480 5,928 7,776 8,700
Distance flown ('000 km) 64 125 125 205 n/a
Revenue passenger kilometres ('000 km) 1,612 2,531 3,349 4,381 n/a

Jet era

Paro Airport
in 2005.

On 30 December 1987, a

load factor of 50–60 percent, more than the 40 percent which was expected, carrying 12,732 passengers over the 1989 – 1990 period.[14][19] In 1990, the runway at Paro Airport was lengthened from 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) and reinforced for heavier aircraft.[13][20] A hangar was also constructed for the aircraft, which was funded by the Indian government as part of the Paro Airport Development Project.[8]

The airlines' only aircraft was requisitioned by King Jigme Singye on 9 November 1990, in order to allow the king and his party to travel to

nationals, enter and leave Bhutan by air, the country's tourism industry was brought to a halt, which saw the airline paying hefty penalties to disgruntled tour operators.[9][21] This problem was somewhat alleviated when a second BAe 146 entered service in 1992,[22] and on 11 November 1993, the airline introduced a 10 Executive Class on the aircraft.[13] On 13 May 1991, Drukair was registered under the Companies Act of Bhutan.[13] Service to Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, began on 6 January 1997.[23]

Paro can gain viewing access to Mount Everest.[24]

During 2000–2001, Drukair could operate with only one single aircraft for over a year due to a corrosion defect in its A5-RGD aircraft in the wing tanks that was detected during a check at Woodford. The wings were replaced. In 2002, an RJ70 was wet-leased from airBaltic to cover for maintenance to A5-RGE.[25]

Drukair became the launch customer for the

aircraft manufacturer offered to fulfil the contract for Drukair, although airline management decided against acquiring the aircraft, citing potential problems with sourcing spare parts for the aircraft in future.[29]

In order to find a replacement for the 2 BAe 146s, Drukair management fielded submissions from

test flights at Paro Airport in February 2003, in which it was demonstrated it met the requirements of the airline for operation into Paro.[34]

Airbus signed a

government bonds to pay for one aircraft and for only the second time in Bhutan's history intended to seek a commercial loan for the other aircraft.[16][18] However, in October 2004 it announced it would instead seek a soft loan for this purpose.[16]

On 11 November 2003, the king's birthday, Drukair initiated services to

National Democratic Front of Bodoland,[43] flights to Dhaka were suspended from 29 December in order to prevent insurgents from using Drukair flights to escape to alleged hideouts in Bangladesh.[44][45]

Airbus era

Paro Airport

The first Airbus A319 arrived in Bhutan on 19 October 2004;

Chhoetse Penlop.[16] The second aircraft was delivered by Airbus to Drukair in December 2004.[47] On 31 August 2012, Druk Air took delivery of a third Airbus A319.[48]

In July 2005, the governments of India and Bhutan signed a new

bilateral air services agreement which increased the allowable number of weekly flights between the two countries from 12 to 49. In addition to destinations already served by Drukair, the cities of Mumbai, Chennai and Guwahati were included in their services agreement, with Bhutan being granted fifth freedom rights from several Indian cities to onward destinations such as Yangon, Dhaka and Singapore.[49][50]

Domestic

US$3,000 in profits.[51]

Flights to Dhaka, suspended since 29 December 2003, resumed on 23 October 2006,

Sharjah were also shelved.[56]

The airline posted its first profit in 2007 of BTN 31.15 million.[57] The two BAe 146 aircraft were sold to Star Perú in October 2007 for US$3.3 million, and left Bhutan for Peru in November and December 2007.[58][59]

Paro Airport
in 2005.

Druk Gyalpo

chairperson of Drukair, and would be responsible for improving the performance of the national airline.[61]

In March 2008, Drukair introduced a new uniform for its

centenary celebrations of the monarchy, as well as the airlines own silver jubilee.[22] The uniform was chosen by way of a competition in which five Bhutanese fashion designers submitted entries, with the winner receiving a BTN 75,000 prize.[62] The textiles used in the new uniform was chosen via a competition which was jointly organised by Drukair and the United Nations Development Programme to promote the Bhutanese textile industry and culture.[63][64]

Although the government of Bhutan goes to great lengths to prevent outside influences from intruding on

leases its aircraft to other airlines, such as Myanmar Airways International and Bangkok Airways in order to keep utilisation rates on its aircraft higher than they would under normal circumstances, whilst at the same time earning extra revenue.[66][67][68][69]

The airline was due to begin flights on 20 April 2009 to

Bhutanese Minister of Foreign Affairs.[71]

Contemporary developments

Until 23 August 2010 Drukair was the only airline flying into Bhutan.[72]

The airline is important for Bhutan and the Bhutanese people,[66] connecting Bhutan with the outside world and supporting tourism and export markets.[73][74][75]

In October 2009, the Bhutanese government planned construction works for an airstrip in Yongphulla. The airstrip, which was expected to be 3,900 feet (1,200 m) in length and operational by March 2010, would allow for service by small aircraft in the 15–16 seat category.[76] The project was being financed with Nu. 34 million from the budget which was previously allocated to the development of domestic helicopter services. The airstrip would only be operational during the morning hours due to high winds in the afternoon, making safe operations risky.[77]

Drukair is conducting a

Bathpalathang and Gelephu.[78][79]

In 2006, the Indian government, acting for the Bhutanese government, conducted a feasibility study into the viability of an international airport near the southern Bhutanese town of Gelephu.[49] In the five-year plan (which covers 2008–2013) the sum of BTN 2,826 million had been allocated by the Bhutanese government for development of the new airport.[80] A preliminary survey was conducted by India in May 2006 and the survey team from the Airports Authority of India was to return and complete the final survey in September 2006. In October 2008 the project was shelved, and the Bhutanese government decided that the airport at Gelephu would be used for domestic flights only.[81]

Since then, the construction of a domestic airport at Gelephu has been scheduled to commence in late 2010 with the airport proposing to start operations in June 2011. The Bhutanese Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has indicated that Gelephu's will be an 'all-weather' airport that may be able to accept some international traffic in the future.[81]

Under the Vision 2020 Plan, the

Royal Bhutanese Government has identified the requirement for improved external air links by 2017, in an effort to increase tourism revenue 100% by 2012 and 150% by 2017.[82] Drukair is conducting feasibility studies into the commencement of operations to either Hong Kong or Singapore by March 2011. The airline's commercial manager has stated that preliminary studies show that Bhutanese traffic to Singapore would consist mainly of official travel, whilst traffic to Hong Kong would be mainly commercial, with good prospects for tourism development.[83]

On 21 April 2010, an ATR 42 turboprop regional aircraft was delivered to Paro under a nine-month lease. The aircraft was used on flights from Paro to Kolkata and Kathmandu, and was on standby during the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in Thimphu at the end of April.[83] Drukair announced its intention to join the International Air Transport Association in 2009.[84]

During February 2018, Druk air performed a few charter flights to Hong Kong and additional charter flights were on slate during the following months. The airline had received request for charter flights to other destinations in Asia . It was also reported that Druk air would be adding an

Airbus A320neo aircraft as well as purchasing a new ATR-42-600 aircraft.[85]

Drukair took delivery of its new ATR 42-600 on 22 October 2019.[86] This was followed by the delivery of the Airbus A320neo in April 2020.[87]

Destinations

Drukair operates scheduled flights to the following destinations:[88][89][90]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
Bangladesh Dhaka
Shahjalal International Airport
Bhutan Gelephu Gelephu Airport
Jakar Bathpalathang Airport
Paro
Paro Airport
 Hub [91]
Trashigang Yongphulla Airport
India Bagdogra
Bagdogra International Airport
Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport
Gaya
 Gaya Airport Seasonal
Guwahati Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Seasonal
Japan Tokyo Narita International Airport Terminated
Myanmar Yangon Yangon International Airport Terminated
Nepal Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport
Palau Koror Roman Tmetuchl International Airport Chartered by Alii Palau Airlines [92]
Singapore Singapore Changi Airport [93]
Thailand Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Timor-Leste Dili Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport Chartered by Air Timor [94][95]
United Arab Emirates Dubai Dubai International Airport Terminated
Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport Charter [96]

Fleet

Current fleet

Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh
.

As of May 2022[update], the Drukair fleet consists of the following aircraft:[97]

Drukair Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes Registrations
C Y Total
Airbus A319-100 3 — 16 102 118 A5-JSW, A5-RGF, A5-RGG
Airbus A320neo 1 — 20 120 140 A5-JKW
ATR 42-600 1 — 8 32 40 A5-JNW
Total 5 —

An ATR 42-500 first operated on a nine-month lease from April 2010 was evaluated by the airline with the possibility of a future purchase. On 4 June 2011, a purchased ATR 42-500 arrived in Paro. Drukair had bought the 48-seater with the view of using it to service the domestic routes to Bumthang and Yonphula in late 2011.[83] On 22 October 2019, Drukair received a new ATR 42-600 following which it sold its ATR 42-500 to ATR.[98]

On 12 October 2021, Drukair inaugurated its first Airbus A320neo. The aircraft was ordered in 2018 and received in April 2020.[99]

Helicopter fleet

The Airbus H130 is the primary helicopter used for charter flights to remote villages. Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services which previously operated the helicopter fleet was merged with Druk Air to form Druk Air Helicopter Services.

The Druk Air helicopter services fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of February 2024):

Druk Air helicopter fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Purpose
Airbus H130[100] 1 2 [101] 7 Domestic
Charter
Total 1 2

Retired fleet

Druk Air retired fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Replacement Notes
ATR 42-500 1 2010 2019 ATR 42-600
BAe 146-100 3 1987 2007 Airbus A319-100 The first jet aircraft of Druk Air.
Dornier 228 1 1983 Un­known BAe 146-100 The first aircraft of Druk Air.

Services

Frequent flyer program

"My Happiness Reward" was launched by Drukair on 10 November 2014, in commemorating the birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth

Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck and in celebrating his enlightened and visionary philosophy of Gross National Happiness.[102]

The members of the program can accumulate miles corresponding to the distance flown on Drukair and the class of service availed. Accrued miles may then be redeemed for free air tickets (Happiness Reward Ticket), upgrades at airports (Happiness Class Upgrade) and other benefits. Drukair currently offers 3 tiers of membership: Silver (Basic tier), Gold and Platinum (the elite tier).

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

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External links

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