Drukair to Singapore

Neelam Mathews

Aug 28, 2012

Bhutan’s national airline Drukair is the newest airline to be added to Changi Airport.  

A special A-319 inaugural flight from Paro landed at Changi Airport with Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck, the eldest princess of the royal family leading a delegation to inaugurate the direct service.

Drukair’s Paro-Singapore route starts commercial service on Sept 1. The twice-weekly will enable passengers departing Singapore to reach Bhutan in under six hours, saving an overnight transfer stay in Thailand or India. Singapore is the fifth country to be linked to Bhutan by air.

In 2011, about 1,300 visitors from Singaporeans visited Bhutan.

Drukair recently signed a firm order for an Airbus A319 aircraft to complement its existing fleet of two A319s.

Landlocked Bhutan is one of the world’s most challenging destinations to land. Drukair’s base at Paro airport is only possible using Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for approach. “We are delighted to be ordering the Airbus A319 equipped with fuel saving Sharklets,” said Dasho Sonam Tshering Drukair Chairman. “The addition of a third A319 will enable us to increase capacity and open up new direct routes……. “