NITN | @notintownlive | 29 Aug 2026, 01:49 am
Air India-Drukair
Air India signs interline partnership with Drukair. Photo: Air India
Air India and Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines, have entered into an interline partnership to enhance travel convenience and strengthen network connectivity between India, Bhutan, and destinations beyond.
The partnership allows passengers to book Air India and Drukair flights as part of a single-ticket itinerary, with coordinated baggage handling and passenger transfers through to their final destination. The arrangement provides connections via Air India’s hub at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and also offers interline fares, giving passengers greater flexibility in planning their journeys and connecting between the two airlines’ networks.
Air India passengers will be able to travel to Paro via Delhi from destinations across the airline’s international network. From Paro, passengers can also connect to Drukair services to Bumthang, Gelephu, and Yonphula within Bhutan.
Mr 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."
The partnership also expands Air India’s connectivity to the SAARC region through its own and partner networks.
For Drukair passengers, the partnership provides direct access via Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata to Air India’s domestic network, including Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kochi. It also provides onward connections to international destinations including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Colombo, Newark, Frankfurt, New York (JFK), London Heathrow, Melbourne, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto Pearson and Vancouver.
Mr 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 two airlines said the partnership will support tourism and business travel between India, Bhutan and other destinations by improving access and connections for passengers.
According to the airlines, the partnership is expected to support tourism and business travel while giving passengers greater access and more convenient connections between India, Bhutan, and other destinations.
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