In a bid to provide connectivity between the Western region of India and Bhutan, the latter’s national carrier Druk Air announced its plans to launch flights between Mumbai and Paro in September 2012. The announcement was made during a roadshow conducted in Mumbai by Tourism Council of Bhutan, Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL)’s Taj Tashi property in Bhutan, and Druk Air. The event was part of a three-city roadshow conducted in Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad, organised to get the Indian travel trade familiar with the Bhutanese counterparts to facilitate travel trade between the two countries.
According to Yeshey Wangchuk, Sr Officer, Marketing, Druk Air, operating out of Mumbai was always part of the airline’s plans for India, but the lack of aircraft in their fleet hampered this expansion. The company, which is now leasing A319 aircrafts, will operate flights from Mumbai to Paro twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “Next, we are aiming at operating direct flights from the southern region, either Bengaluru or Chennai, as well as flights from Sri Lanka which will be routed through India,” said Wangchuk. Druk Air enjoys a healthy load factor of 65 per cent Indian travellers during the off season, and 70 per cent during the peak season (June – August and December – January).
Speaking about Indian footfall to Bhutan, Damcho Rinzin, Media Spokesperson, Tourism Council of Bhutan stated, “We received 53,233 visitors last year, of which 53 per cent were regional tourists (from India, Maldives and Bangladesh). The numbers clearly show why India is an important source market for us.”
Ravi Nischal, General Manager, Taj Tashi further revealed that the property, which has seen a 100 per cent increase in Indian bookings year on year, will be working in collaboration with Druk Air to facilitate flight searches and bookings for their guests.
