Interline partnership with Drukair
(IN SHORT) Air India and Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines have announced a new interline partnership aimed at improving travel convenience and strengthening connectivity between India, Bhutan and international markets. The agreement allows passengers to book single-ticket itineraries combining Air India and Drukair flights, with coordinated passenger and baggage transfer through to the final destination via Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport. Air India passengers will gain smoother access to Paro and onward Bhutanese destinations including Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula, while Drukair passengers will be able to connect through Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata to Air India’s domestic network and major international destinations including London Heathrow, New York JFK, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Melbourne, Sydney, Toronto Pearson and Vancouver. The partnership is expected to support tourism and business travel while expanding connectivity across the SAARC region and beyond.
(PRESS RELEASE) GURUGRAM, India / PARO, Bhutan, 2026-Aug-26 — /Travel PR News/ — Air India, India’s leading global airline, and Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines, have announced a new interline partnership designed to improve travel convenience and strengthen network connectivity between India, Bhutan and wider international markets.
The agreement enables passengers to book a single-ticket itinerary combining flights operated by Air India and Drukair.
It also supports coordinated passenger and baggage transfer through to the final destination, creating a more seamless end-to-end journey through Air India’s hub at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Passengers will also benefit from competitive interline fares, greater flexibility, improved connectivity and enhanced overall value.
Through the partnership, Air India passengers will be able to travel more easily to Paro via Delhi from across Air India’s growing international network.
The agreement also provides onward connectivity within Bhutan from Paro to Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula.
Air India said the partnership enables it to offer seamless connectivity to nearly all countries in the SAARC region through its own network or partner airlines.
Drukair passengers will, in turn, gain access through Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata to Air India’s extensive domestic network, including Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kochi.
They will also be able to connect to a wide range of international destinations served by Air India, including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Colombo, Newark, Frankfurt, New York JFK, London Heathrow, Melbourne, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto Pearson and Vancouver.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer at Air India, said the partnership with Drukair reinforces Air India’s commitment to strengthening connectivity across the SAARC region, which the airline considers its extended home market.
He said Bhutan is a valued part of the region, adding that Air India is pleased to enable easier access to Bhutan for its guests and looks forward to welcoming Drukair passengers onto Air India’s domestic and global network.
Tandi Wangchuk, Chief Executive Officer of Drukair, said the partnership marks an important milestone for Drukair as it works to strengthen global connectivity and improve the passenger travel experience.
He said the interline partnership with Air India will give Drukair customers more seamless journeys, expanded access to key international markets and improved connectivity across India and beyond.
The partnership is expected to support both tourism and business travel by offering passengers greater accessibility, convenience and value across the combined Air India and Drukair networks.
About Air India Group
The Air India Group – comprising full-service global airline, Air India, and value carrier, Air India Express – is spearheading a new era of Indian aviation. The Air India story began in 1932 when JRD Tata piloted the airline’s inaugural flight and opened the skies for aviation in India. Today, Air India Group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries travellers to 60 domestic and 51 international destinations across five continents.
Returning to Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, Air India Group is in the midst of a five-year transformation programme, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India has placed orders for 600 new aircraft. In addition to taking new aircraft deliveries, Air India is progressively retrofitting all its legacy aircraft.
The Air India Group operates South Asia’s largest aviation training academy in Gurugram, India. The construction of a new flying school and a greenfield maintenance base is in progress.
With transformation underway across all facets of the business and India’s rich legacy of hospitality, Air India is committed to being a world class global airline with an Indian heart.
For more news on Air India, visit http://www.airindia.com/newsroom
About Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines
Drukair Corporation Limited, the national flag carrier of Bhutan, was established in 1981. Operating from its hub at Paro International Airport, Drukair serves 10 international destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition to its international routes, Drukair services 3 domestic destinations within Bhutan and offers helicopter services to enhance its range beyond fixed-wing operations.
PRESS CONTACTS
Air India
Ronit Baugh
ronit.baugh@airindia.com
Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines
Tandi Wangchuk – Chief Executive Officer
tandi.wangchuk@drukair.com.bt
