Drukair, the national carrier of Bhutan, has placed an order for five Airbus aircraft as part of a fleet expansion aimed at enhancing the airline’s operational capacity and extending its international reach. The deal includes three A320neo and two A321XLR jets.
The extended range of the A321XLR will allow Drukair to introduce longer routes, potentially opening up new destinations and increasing connectivity to and from Bhutan, a landlocked country that relies heavily on air travel for international access. Aircraft deliveries are scheduled to start in 2030.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the airline and Airbus on July 22, 2024, at the Farnborough International Airshow.
“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,” Tandi Wangchuk, Drukair CEO stated at the time. “Our investment in these state-of-the-art aircraft underscores our dedication to supporting Bhutan’s vision of holistic and mindful development.”
The national airline of Bhutan intends to operate these aircraft from Paro International Airport (PBH) and the new airport at Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), which the nation aims to develop into a future economic hub for Bhutan. Drukair plans to enhance its air links to Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia from there.
Headquartered in Paro, Bhutan, Drukair currently operates four Airbus A320 family aircraft consisting of three A319s and a single A320.