New Delhi: Air India and Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines, have announced a new interline partnership that will allow passengers to travel on flights operated by both airlines under a single-ticket itinerary, improving connectivity between India, Bhutan and onward destinations.
Under the agreement, passengers will be able to transfer between Air India and Drukair flights with coordinated baggage and passenger through-transfer to their final destination. Air India said the arrangement will also offer competitive interline fares and improve connection options through its Delhi hub.
Air India passengers will be able to travel to Paro in Bhutan via Delhi from destinations across the airline’s international network. The partnership will also provide onward connections within Bhutan from Paro to Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula.
The agreement will expand connectivity for Drukair passengers travelling through Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata. They will be able to connect to Air India’s domestic network, including destinations such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kochi.
International connections available through Air India include Paris Charles de Gaulle, Colombo, Newark, Frankfurt, New York JFK, London Heathrow, Melbourne, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto Pearson and Vancouver, according to the airline.
Air India said the partnership gives it connectivity to nearly all countries in the SAARC region through either its own flights or partner networks.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, said the agreement strengthens the airline’s connectivity across the SAARC region and provides easier access to Bhutan for Air India passengers while bringing Drukair customers onto its domestic and international network.
Drukair Chief Executive Officer Tandi Wangchuk said the interline partnership would expand the airline’s access to key international markets and improve connectivity across India and beyond.
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