Bhutan The land of Thunder Dragon is also called the last Shangrila in South Asia. Bhutan is located in the eastern Himalayas. Airports in Bhutan Paro International Airport is the first international airport in Bhutan. There are an additional four domestic airports in Bhutan.
In 1968, the Indian Border Roads Organisation built an airstrip in the Paro Valley, which was initially used for on-call helicopter operations by the Indian Armed Forces on behalf of the
Royal Government of Bhutan. Bhutan’s first airline, Drukair, was established by Royal Charter on 5 April 1981. Flight schedules and airport services in Bhutan might be limited compared to larger international airports in other countries. Therefore, it is advisable to check with airlines or relevant authorities for the latest information before planning any travel to Bhutan.
This is the only international airport in Bhutan and is located in the town of Paro. It serves as the main gateway for tourists and visitors coming to Bhutan. Due to its challenging mountainous terrain, only a handful of pilots are certified to land at this airport.
Paro Airport is located on the river Pa Chhu. Paro’s runaway length is 6 km on the deep valley of Paro with an elevation of 2235 meters(7,332 ft) above sea level. The runaway of Paro Airport with surrounding peaks as high as 5,500 m (18,000 ft). it is considered one of the most challenging airports in the world. Only a few selected pilots are certified to land at the airport. Paro International Airport inherited IATA airport with the code PBH. Paro Airport was the only airport in Bhutan until 2011.
Paro Bhutan Airport code is (IATA: PBH, ICAO: VQPR).
Drukair first inaugurated scheduled flights from Paro on 11 February 1983. The first Flight of Druk Air from Paro to Kolkata and returning the next day. Paro Airport Bhutan consisted of the runway, a two-room air traffic control building. The airport was constructed with a runway 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in length.
In mid-1981, the Indian government set up a committee to study its own requirements for a light transport aircraft. Based on this study, the Bhutanese government ordered one Dornier 228-200 for delivery in January 1983, with the option for a second aircraft for delivery in late 1983. The first 18-seat Dornier 228-200 landed at Paro Airport on 14 January 1983.
Flights to and from Paro Airports are allowed under visual meteorological conditions only. It is restricted to daylight hours from sunrise to sunset.
Operated by the Department of Civil Aviation, Paro Airport has a 1,985-metre-long asphalt paved runway. Now it has three terminals. Two terminals for entry and exit and one cargo terminal. Paro Airport is only served by Drukair, the national airline of Bhutan. Currently, Drukair offers flights from Paro Airport to Bagdogra, Delhi, Kolkata, Gaya, Dhaka, Bangkok, and Kathmandu. Among all airports in Bhutan Paro airport is the best and first airport in Bhutan.
Also known as Bumthang Airport, it is situated in the central region of Bhutan and provides domestic flight services.
Bathpalathang Airport is another domestic airport in Bhutan located in Bumthang District. It opened officially on 17 December 2011. Located at 2 Km from Chamkhar Town on the river Chamkhar bank. Bathpalathang Airport is located at an elevation of 8466 feet above sea level. it has one runway only. Bumthang in central Bhutan made the Bhutan Tourism sector open up domestically because tourist flow to Bumthang
Construction at Bathpalathang Airport met several delays due to technical glitches and many aspects like soil instability, shortages of labor and construction materials, and nearby river protection wall formation. The major complication arose from land compensation and relocation.
Druk Air the Government owned Airline and Tashi Air/Bhutan Airlines private airline started to operate flights to Bathpalathang Airport from Paro on 17 December 2011. Tashi Air stopped the operation due to a loss in operation.
Presently Bathpalathang Airport in Bumthang is underway to extend the runway for upgrading to an international airport. Now it will have a kilometer runway for increasing the capacity of planes to accommodate tourism is open after the relaxation of covid-19 pandemic worldwide.
it will carry more passengers up to 40 passengers in one go. The main reason is to boost the Tourism sector. There is a high chance of flying to Nepal and nearby countries after the upgrade of the main terminal.
Gelephu Airport (IATA: GLU, ICAO: VQGP):
Located in the southern region of Bhutan, Gelephu Airport serves as one of the domestic airports in the country.
Gelephu Airport is located in the south bordering Assam state of India. It is under Samteling Gewog of Gelephu town with a 2 km drive from the main town. Gepephu Airport has been constructed with an area of 542.9 acres. The airport is at an elevation of 300.9m (987.204ft) above mean sea level. The runway with 1500 meters in length. The single-story building functions with a departure and arrival terminal. Gelephu Airport is 2nd airport in Bhutan to operate.
Gelephu Airport was inaugurated in October 2012. It came into regular operation on December 17, 2015. Domestic flight operation from Paro-Gelephu-Paro was suspended in August 2019 due to increasing COVID-19 cases.
It is one of only four airports in Bhutan that have more chances of expansion near future because due to the landscape, it will not have obstacles like other airports of Bhutan. The Gelephu Airport might become an international airport one day. The government still working on a master plan for the airport.
Located in the eastern part of Bhutan, Yonphula Airport is another domestic airport.
Yongphulla Airport is one of the three Domestic Airports in Bhutan. It is located in Yongphulla under Tashigang district in eastern Bhutan with an elevation of 2743 meters(8442 ft).IATA airport code YON. Yongphulla Airport was a simple airstrip located on the hilltop above the Yongphulla area. it was first constructed by the Border Roads Organisation under Indian Government aid in the 1960s. In the early 2000s, Yongphulla Airport was renovated to convert into a domestic airport. It was inaugurated in December 2011. After six months it was closed for runway surface repairs due to unsafety measures.
Yongphulla Airport remained suspended because of regulatory requirements and further safety measures. The airport re-opened on 8 October 2017 after the runway was upgraded to international standards and norms.
At present, Drukair operates two domestic flights from Yongphulla Airport – to Paro International Airport.
There are four airports in Bhutan with only one Paro International Airport, Yongphulla Airport, Bathpalathang Airport, and Gelephu Airport. Very soon Bumthang Bathpalathang will be upgraded to an International airport with international standards.
Paro International Airport in Bhutan. The first airport in Bhutan that flies out and flies in from 5 countries(India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand(BKK) & Singapore).
Paro International Airport is the best airport in Bhutan. It started in the year 1968. It is 6 km away from Paro City and 65 km from Thimphu City.
Paro International Airport is the biggest in Bhutan. It is the best airport with good facilities with international standards.
Druk Air is the main Airline in Bhutan. The alternative and competitor airline is Bhutan Airlines/Tashi Air.
Two Airlines i.e. Bhutan Air and Drukair.
Bhutan Airlines provides the best service. They are owned by Tashi Air Pvt. Ltd. and they are traded as Bhutan Airlines. They started their international flights to India and Thailand in October 2013.
Yes. You can get it. It is better to book in advance during the high season.