Air India and Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines, have announced a new interline partnership aimed at strengthening connectivity between India, Bhutan and destinations beyond their respective networks.
The partnership will allow passengers to travel on a single-ticket itinerary combining Air India and Drukair flights, with coordinated baggage and passenger transfers to their final destination. Travellers will also have access to interline fares and connections through Air India’s Delhi hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Under the partnership, Air India passengers travelling from across its international network will be able to connect to Paro via Delhi and access onward Drukair services within Bhutan to Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula.
Air India said the agreement enables it to provide connectivity to nearly all countries in the SAARC region through its own services or partner network.
Drukair passengers, meanwhile, will gain access through Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata to Air India’s domestic network, including Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kochi.
The partnership will also provide onward connections to Air India’s international destinations, including Paris, Colombo, Newark, Frankfurt, New York, London, Melbourne, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto and Vancouver.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, “Our partnership with Drukair reinforces our commitment to strengthening connectivity across the SAARC region, which we consider our extended home market. Bhutan is a valued part of this region, and we are happy to enable easy access to Bhutan for our guests and look forward to welcoming Drukair’s passengers onto Air India’s extensive domestic and global network.
Tandi Wangchuk, Chief Executive Officer of Drukair, said, “This partnership marks a significant milestone for Drukair as we continue to strengthen our global connectivity and enhance the travel experience for our passengers. Through this interline partnership with Air India, our customers will benefit from seamless journeys, expanded access to key international markets, and improved connectivity across India and beyond.”
The airlines expect the partnership to support tourism and business travel between Bhutan, India and international markets, while providing passengers with greater connectivity and convenience.
