Drukair, the national airline of Bhutan, announced its plans for international expansion at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 with a memorandum of understanding for new Airbus aircraft.
The airline signed the agreement with Airbus for three A320neo and two A321XLR aircraft. Deliveries are anticipated to begin in 2030.
We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter in Drukair’s history, which dovetails perfectly with development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City and work to expand the Gelephu airport.
Drukair CEO Tandi Wangchuk
“Our investment in these state-of-the-art aircraft underscores our dedication to supporting Bhutan’s vision of holistic and mindful development,” he added.
The airline plans to base the new aircraft out of Paro International Airport and the forthcoming Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) airport, which is slated to become a significant economic hub for Bhutan.
Drukair intends to utilize the new aircraft to expand its network to destinations in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
“We are grateful to Drukair for reaffirming their trust in Airbus to power their next phase of growth,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft business.
“Airbus has been a long-standing partner of Bhutan and we are extremely proud that our latest generation aircraft will be a part of the Kingdom’s next chapter of development, connecting the Gelephu Mindfulness City to the rest of the world.”
Drukair currently operates a fleet of four Airbus A320 family aircraft, including three A319s and a single A320.
The airline currently serves 10 international destinations across five countries, primarily in the South Asian region, as well as three domestic destinations.
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