Drukair Corporation Limited has announced the reintroduction of twice-weekly flights between Paro and Bangkok via Guwahati and an additional weekly frequency on its Singapore route via Guwahati starting April 2026.
According to the airline, the Bangkok service will operate twice a week and will restore a regional connection that has previously supported tourism, medical travel, education and business exchanges between Bhutan, the Northeast states of India and Thailand. Bangkok is a major regional gateway with global air links, and the airline stated that the service is expected to support tourism into the region while also facilitating outbound travel by Bhutanese passengers.
The airline will operate the services on the Paro–Guwahati–Singapore and Paro–Guwahati–Bangkok sectors. The additional frequency on the Singapore route has been introduced in response to rising passenger demand and is part of the airline’s plan to expand access to international gateways. Singapore serves as a global aviation and financial hub with connections across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Australia and North America.
Commenting on the expansion, the Chief Executive Officer of Drukair, Tandi Wangchuk, said, “The introduction of a third weekly service to Singapore and the reinstatement of our Bangkok flights via Guwahati represent a significant step in Drukair’s ongoing network expansion strategy. The expansion aligns with the Government of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ as well as provide support to the travel requirements of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) in southern Bhutan adjacent to Assam. These services respond to growing market demand and reinforce our role in connecting Bhutan to key regional and global hubs. Enhanced connectivity is vital to supporting tourism growth, facilitating business and educational exchanges, and strengthening Bhutan’s engagement with international markets. As we expand, we remain committed to operating in a sustainable and commercially responsible manner while maintaining the highest standards of safety and service excellence.”
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Jalpa H Vithalani, Group Managing Director of Global Aviation Services Pvt. Ltd., the India GSA for Drukair, informed, “Many years ago, travellers from the Northeast had to travel all the way to Kolkata to obtain visas before they could journey onward to Thailand. Recognising this challenge, Drukair had earlier introduced the Guwahati–Bangkok flight to facilitate easier access for passengers from the region. Today, with Guwahati now having an international airport and Thailand offering visa-on-arrival for Indian travellers, the reintroduction of this flight creates a direct and convenient gateway for the people of the Northeast to travel to Thailand. We are confident that this route will serve the region well and grow into a successful and important link for the Northeast.”
The airline said the network expansion is intended to support Bhutan’s economic priorities by improving access to markets, strengthening trade and investment links, and promoting tourism. It also noted that using Guwahati as a transit point is expected to improve regional connectivity while supporting operational efficiency and passenger convenience.
Flight schedule (all times local)
Paro–Guwahati–Bangkok (v.v.)
- KB140: Paro–Guwahati–Bangkok, departs 1150, arrives 1725, Thursday and Sunday
- KB141: Bangkok–Guwahati–Paro, departs 0700, arrives 1035, Friday and Monday
Paro–Guwahati–Singapore (v.v.)
- KB540: Paro–Guwahati–Singapore, departs 0830, arrives 1625, Tuesday; departs 0750, arrives 1555, Wednesday; departs 1130, arrives 1930, Saturday
- KB541: Singapore–Guwahati–Paro, departs 0600, arrives 1015, Wednesday; departs 1230, arrives 1645, Thursday and Sunday
Schedules are subject to change.
Established in 1981, Drukair operates from its hub at Paro International Airport and serves 10 international destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. The airline also operates flights to three domestic destinations within Bhutan and provides helicopter services.
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