Druk steps up flights from Kolkata to 7 per week

City to be intermediary between Paro-Bangkok and Paro-New Delhi circuits

Druk Air, formerly Royal Bhutan Airlines, the national carrier of the Royal Government of Bhutan, has increased its flight frequency from five to seven flights a week to get more visitors to the Himalayan kingdom.

This comes in the wake of the recent bilateral air services meeting between the government of India and the Royal Government of Bhutan recently, under which the traffic entitlements for designated airlines of both the countries were increased from the existing 12 frequencies to 49.

The cap of 1,020 seats per week has been eliminated and there was no limitation on seats now, said Kunzang D Tenzin, station manager, Druk Air, Kolkata.

The current circuit would use Kolkata as an intermediary point from Paro-Kolkata-Bangkok and three flights between Paro and New Delhi with onward services to Kathmandu.

Besides Delhi, the airline had secured landing rights in Gaya and plan to start services in September or October from Paro-Gaya-Bangkok to cater to the Buddhist traffic as well, explained Tenzin. In 2006, the airline will expand operations to Chennai, Mumbai and Guwahati.

Druk would now be able to operate flights with 7 times a week from the above points of call and special provision of 14 flights a week to Gaya.

"Druk was reticent till 2004 and tourist flow did not pick up as the two existing aircraft of the BAe 146-100 series could not do justice to step up tourist flow," Tenzin remarked.

The airline company has recently purchased two A319 aircrafts in December 2004 and has 94 economy and 20 business class seats.

The Paro-Kolkata-Paro fare was Rs 7990 and onward service to Bangkok Rs 10,000 inclusive of taxes.

Under a promotional package that will run till August 31, the fare would be Rs 4875 on the Paro-Kolkata-Paro sector inclusive of taxes.

The lean or monsoon season from May to July usually had load factor of 60 per cent.

According to Tenzin, the peak season between March to mid-May and September to mid-December has a occupancy level of around 90 per cent.

Route analysis was currently being carried out to capitalise on the rights granted to Bhutan to connect Singapore, Dhaka, New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai subject to a cap of 14 flights a week.

Onward connections to Hong Kong would also be explored.

No Indian carrier offered flights to Bhutan at present.

Tenzin claimed Bhutan was steadily making its presence felt in the tourism market and the flow of tourists was going up.

The Union Cabinet has already approved an assistance package of Rs 1948 crore under the 11th Plan of Bhutan for period from July 2002 to June 2007 comprising development subsidy of Rs 710 crore, project tied assistance of Rs 734 crore and other subsidies of Rs 540 crore.

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TO PARO

• Druk Air purchased two A319 aircrafts December last year with 94 economy and 20 business class seats
• The Paro-Kolkata-Paro fare was Rs 7,990 and onward service to Bangkok Rs 10,000