Bhutan’s flagship carrier, Druk Air announced the launch of a new flight connecting Bagdogra in West Bengal with Paro in Bhutan and Thai capital Bangkok from April 18. According to Tandin Jamso, Druk Air chief executive, an airbus A-319 aircraft will fly the Paro-Bagdogra-Bangkok route twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays and the flight will return from Bangkok on Wednesdays and Sundays.

 

Sikkim Tourism Secretary, S.B.S. Bhadauria, is also looking forward to the increase of the international tourist inflow to Sikkim and the entire region because of this new service. He also urged the Druk Air management to complete the required formalities in advance so that it can start flying the Sikkim circuit soon after the airport becomes operational. At present, the nearest airport to Sikkim is Bagdogra, some 124 km from here. Responding to this, Jamso assured that Druk Air would be the first airline to start operations in Sikkim once the airport is ready.

 

Lukendra Rasaily, General Secretary, Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS) welcomed the new service stating that it would change the face of tourism in the region and will also help international tourists to come to Sikkim via Bangkok.