Air India, India's flag carrier, has announced an interline partnership with Drukair-Royal Bhutan Airlines, Bhutan's national airline. This collaboration aims to significantly simplify travel between India and Bhutan, offering passengers a more seamless booking and travel experience.
Enhanced Connectivity and Convenience
Under the new interline arrangement, travelers can now book a single itinerary that combines flights operated by both Air India and Drukair. A key benefit of this partnership is the coordinated baggage transfer, ensuring that luggage is checked through to the final destination, often via Air India's hub at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Air India highlighted that this agreement strengthens connectivity between the two nations and provides travelers with easier access to a broader range of destinations across both airlines' networks. The partnership also promises competitive interline fares, enhancing flexibility and convenience for passengers.
Benefits for Air India Passengers
- Direct access to Paro, Bhutan, from Air India's international network via Delhi.
- Onward connections from Paro to domestic Bhutanese destinations like Bumthang, Gelephu, and Yonphula.
Benefits for Drukair Passengers
- Access to Air India's extensive domestic network across India, including major cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kochi, via Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata.
- Connectivity to Air India's international destinations such as Paris, Colombo, Newark, Frankfurt, New York, London, Melbourne, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Strengthening SAARC Region Connectivity
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership. "Our partnership with Drukair reinforces our commitment to strengthening connectivity across the SAARC region, which we consider our extended home market," Aggarwal stated. "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."
Tandi Wangchuk, Chief Executive Officer of Drukair, echoed this sentiment, calling the partnership a "significant milestone" for the airline. "Through this interline partnership with Air India, Drukair-Royal Bhutan Airlines customers will benefit from seamless journeys, expanded access to key international markets, and improved connectivity across India and beyond," Wangchuk said.
An interline arrangement enables airlines to issue and accept tickets for flights operated by their partner, allowing passengers to travel on multiple airlines with a single ticket and simplified logistics.