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Drukair Corporation Limited, operating as Drukair – Royal Bhutan Airlines, is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bhutan. It was founded on the 5th of April 1981 through a Royal Proclamation issued by His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
With its headquarters in Paro, Bhutan, Drukair presently operates scheduled flights to 10 international destinations spanning 6 countries within the South Asian region, from its operational base at Paro International Airport. Additionally, Drukair operates to 3 domestic destinations within Bhutan and extends its offerings to include helicopter services, expanding its scope beyond fixed-wing operations.
In a significant development, the Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services Limited (RBHSL) was amalgamated with Drukair in November 2022.
| Slogan | On the wings of the dragon |
|---|---|
| Vision | To be the leading airline connecting Bhutan and the world |
| Mission | To provide safe, reliable and excellent services on ground and in the sky |
| Core Values | Safety, Standard, Service Excellence, Integrity, Team Work and Open Door Culture |
| Founded | 1981, Commercially operated in 1983 |
| Headquarter | Paro town (Opposite to Paro Municipal Office ), Paro, Bhutan |
| Chief Executive Officer | Mr. Tandi Wangchuk |
| Operation Base | Paro International Airport , Paro, Bhutan |
| IATA Code | KB |
| Aircraft Fleet | Seven ( One – A320neo, Three – A319, One ATR 42-600 and Two H-130) |
| Destinations International | 11 Cities (including Paro International Airport) – View! |
| Destinations Domestic | 4 Cities (including Paro International Airport) – View! |
| Website | https://www.kbqa.data-wings.uk |
| Length | 37.57 m |
| Wingspan | 34.10 m |
| Height | 12 m |
| Max. take-off weight | 73.5 t |
| Max. cruising speed | 840 km/h |
| Max. cruising altitude | 11,900 m |
| Reach | 3,200 km |
| Engines | 2 x Pratt&Whitney PW1133G |
| Length | 33.84 m |
| Wingspan | 34 m |
| Height | 12 m |
| Max. take-off weight | 68 t |
| Max. cruising speed | 840 km/h |
| Max. cruising altitude | 11,900 m |
| Reach | 3,400 km |
| Engines | 2 x CFM International CFM56-5 |
| Length | 27 m |
| Wingspan | 25 m |
| Height | 7.59 m |
| Max. take-off weight | 18,600kg |
| Max. cruising speed | 556 km/h |
| Max. cruising altitude | 6,000 m |
| Length | 13 m |
| Wingspan | 11 m |
| Height | 3.34 m |
| Max. take-off weight | 2,500 kg |
| Max. cruising speed | 237km/h |
| Max. cruising altitude | 7,010 m |
The idea of starting the country’s own air services was mooted by the Late King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. His great contributions to the building of modern Bhutan will be remembered with gratitude by the succeeding generations of our countrymen.
An important milestone in the Aviation history of Bhutan and remembered as the day we brought Bhutan on the world’s air map. The airfield was capable of landing a Dakota airplane making it the first step in its history for which the credit is entirely given to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. Necessary help was provided by the government of India for the construction of airfield whose foundation was laid down by the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshall Arjan Singh on 24th October 1966. The Border Road Forces was entrusted with the important task and it was completed in March 1968.
On 23 March 1968, the Deputy Prime Minister of India, Shri Morarji Desai was invited to inaugurate the Paro airfield. The guest of honour flew in a special Indian Air Force aircraft. Dasho Tamji Jagar warmly received the esteemed guest with a Guard of Honour presented by the Royal Bhutan Army. The Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh DFC, Shri Kanti Lal Desai, Mr Duggal Finance Secretary to the Government of India, Mr Ashok Bhadkamkar of the External Affairs Ministry and other high Indian Officials and press reporters.
We are here today because of the far sightedness and vision of one person –the Fourth King of Bhutan, His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. In 1981 April 5th through a Royal Proclamation by his Majesty, opened up the big blue sky and Drukair was born.
Drukair began operations from Paro with an 18-seat Dornier 228-200. Regular air service between Paro and Kolkata was established. This was the dawn of a new era in the kingdom’s march towards modernization, removing one of the major constraints to development of a land locked country. Her Royal Highness Ashi Sonam Chhoden Wangchuck inaugurated the kingdom’s first historic air services between Paro and Kolkata International airport on February 11, 1983.
Drukair began modestly with one aircraft and twice weekly flight between Paro and Kolkata.
Marking the beginning of air services in Bhutan, the Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs issued first day cover stamps in commemoration of Drukair, that were release by Her Royal Highness on the same day.
A simple religious consecration ceremony marked the arrival in Bhutan and the installation of Drukair’s second aircraft into regular scheduled service on October 11. 1983. The aircraft was also a Dornier 228-200, made in West Germany, and identical to the first aircraft.
On 30th October 1986, Drukair touched down, from Paro to Dhaka airport marking another historic moment establishing Bhutan’s second international destination.
Captain Tenzin Tshering, 23 years, became the first Bhutanese pilot to fly Drukair. In 1st April, 1984, he joined Drukair. He flew side by side on the Paro-Calcutta and Paro-Dhaka routes along with the six Indian pilots.
February 21, 1987, Drukair completed evaluation of all three aircraft models that were being considered for purchase by Bhutan namely:
On 25th October 1987, Drukair operated its first flight to Kathmandu. The proving flight took 1 hour 38 minutes.
The royal government of Bhutan and British Aerospace signed the contract for the purchase of one BAe146 – 100 series in London.
Drukair recruited nine (six women and three men) cabin crews for its new aircraft BAe-146. The cabin crews were referred through RCSC and based at Paro. Names of the first Drukair cabin crew:
The BAe-146 series 100 aircraft began its service from Paro to Delhi on 26th November 1988. It added to the airline’s fleet of two Dornier aircrafts, which have been flying the Paro-Calcutta route since February 11, 1983.
Drukair entered the competitive international aviation world by inaugurating its flight to Bangkok on 22nd January 1989 through the support and cooperation from Thai International Airways and the Royal Thai government creating history between the two countries.
Drukair also established airlinks with Kathmandu. The BAe- 146 took off from Paro Airport at 1 PM on 18th February, 1989 with Captain Nightingale and Blagana at the controls.
An air services agreement was signed by Bhutan and Nepal allowing Drukair, the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right of up to 2,080 passengers a year from Kathmandu to New Delhi. The bilateral air services agreement was signed on August 7, 1990.
Drukair awarded Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s licence to five Drukair Engineers in a simple ceremony at the office of Civil Aviation Department on 20th February 1991.
Drukair’s second jet touched down on Paro runway in December 24th 1992. The new jet had an updated instrument panel, in-built steps and other improved features. It could also fly up to 31,000 feet, 1,000 feet higher than the previous aircraft.
Drukair’s BAe 146 made its first flight with a complete Bhutanese crew on March 29 under the command of Captain Tenzing Tshering.
Coinciding with His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo’s birth anniversary on 11th November, the Royal Druk Executive Class, Drukair’s luxury section, was inaugurated on its New Delhi flight on November 11 with a separate check-in counter and a lounge at the airport as a part of the service.
Drukair signed an agreement with a private Cambodian air company, Kampuchea Airline, on July 26 to lease an aircraft for 38 days beginning August 4.
Drukair released its first In-Flight magazine “TASHI DELEK” on 11th November, coinciding with His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo’s birth anniversary. The magazine was scheduled to be published every two months.
On November 11 Drukair, flew into Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, to inaugurate its new commercial route which was supposed to begin on January 6. The opening of the new commercial route was timed to coincide with the “visit Myanmar year” which began on November 18. Drukair was given the rights to carry 50 passengers between Yangon and Bangkok.
To tackle numerous ticketing problems, a new reservation software system “Drukair Reservation System” was developed.
Under a new agreement with Biman (Bangladesh’s national airline) Drukair resumed operations to Dhaka. The agreement allowed Drukair to fly to Dhaka where passengers wishing to continue were then supposed to be transferred on to a Biman flight for Bangkok.
In July, one aircraft was sent back to the United Kingdom for a regular checkup as some micro biological contamination was found on the wings and the aircraft had to undergo some repair work.
Drukair welcomed its first Airbus 319 in October with second Airbus expected to arrive in December. The Airbus had a carrying capacity of 118 passengers.
