BHUTANESE private airline, Tashi Air, will commence its first international flights on October 10, linking Paro to Bangkok via a daily service.
The airline, which has operated only domestic routes thus far, will take delivery of a 150-seat Airbus A20 on October 2 for use on the new service.
Tashi Air CEO, David Young, said of the new service: “Our fares won’t be vastly different from Drukair since it’s a very expensive route to operate.”
Roundtrip economy fares will cost Indian and Bhutanese nationals 21,000 Bhutanese ngultrum (US$335), and passengers of other nationalities, US$720. However, children and students can receive 33 and 30 per cent off regular fares respectively.
State-owned Drukair currently flies Paro-Bangkok and other shorthaul international destinations.
Tashi Air is also awaiting clearance to fly via Kolkata and Bagdogra, and is mulling links to Dhaka, Singapore, Kathmandu, Dubai and Hong Kong for the future.
Debjit Dutta, director of Impression Tourism Services India, commented: “Flights into and out of Bhutan are in huge demand despite the high costs. Bangkok will be a good beginning, (bringing) leisure tourists as well as Budhhist pilgrims.”
