New Delhi, Aug 26: Air India and Bhutan’s national carrier, Drukair-Royal Bhutan Airlines, have entered into an interline partnership aimed at improving travel options between India, Bhutan and other destinations connected through their respective networks.
The agreement allows passengers to combine flights operated by both airlines under a single booking, making connecting journeys easier to plan and reducing some of the difficulties associated with travelling on separate tickets.
One of the key features of the arrangement is coordinated baggage handling at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Passengers travelling on eligible connecting itineraries will be able to have their baggage transferred between flights without having to collect and check it in again during transit.
The partnership will strengthen access to Bhutan for Air India passengers. Travellers can connect through Delhi to Paro, from where Drukair operates services to destinations within Bhutan, including Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula.
At the same time, Drukair passengers will gain wider access to Air India’s domestic network. Connections through Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata will provide convenient onward travel to major Indian cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kochi.
The arrangement also opens additional international travel possibilities for Drukair customers through Air India’s network. Depending on the itinerary, passengers can connect onwards to destinations including London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney and San Francisco.
For travellers, the partnership means greater flexibility in planning journeys, with combined itineraries and coordinated connections available through the two airlines.
The collaboration also reflects the growing importance of regional aviation links in South Asia. Stronger air connectivity between India and Bhutan can support tourism, business travel and people-to-people ties while giving passengers more convenient access to destinations across the region.
Air India and Drukair said the partnership is intended to provide a smoother travel experience and expand the range of destinations available to their respective passengers.
The new arrangement marks another step towards closer aviation connectivity between India and Bhutan, while creating additional opportunities for travellers to connect between South Asia and international destinations.