Air India, Drukair partner to boost India-Bhutan links
Dhaka: Air India and Drukair — Royal Bhutan Airlines, the respective national airlines of India and Bhutan, have signed a new interline agreement aimed at strengthening connectivity between the two nations and beyond, according to an official statement from the former issued on August 26.
The partnership will allow passengers to book single-ticket itineraries combining flights of both carriers, with through check-in for baggage and passengers to their final destination via Air India's hub at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Travelers will also have access to competitive interline fares under the agreement, offering greater flexibility and connectivity across the combined networks of the two airlines.
Under the deal, Air India passengers will be able to fly seamlessly to Paro via Delhi from points across the carrier's expanding international network, with onward connections within Bhutan to Bumthang, Gelephu, and Yonphula.
With the new partnership, Air India said it now offers connectivity to nearly all countries in the SAARC region through its own and partner networks.
In return, Drukair passengers will gain access via Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata to Air India's domestic network, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kochi, as well as international destinations such as Paris, Colombo, Newark, Frankfurt, New York, London, Melbourne, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, said the tie-up with Drukair reinforces the carrier's commitment to strengthening connectivity across the SAARC region, which it considers an extended home market, adding that Air India looks forward to welcoming Drukair passengers onto its network.
Drukair CEO Tandi Wangchuk called the agreement a significant milestone for the Bhutanese carrier, saying it would allow the airline's customers to benefit from seamless journeys and expanded access to key international markets through Air India's network.
Both carriers said the interline partnership is expected to support tourism and business travel between the two countries while giving passengers greater accessibility, convenience, and value on their journeys.
