Air India and Drukair have launched an interline partnership: single-ticket bookings to Paro via Delhi, with onward links across Bhutan, India and the world.
Cover image: Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines aircraft parked at Paro airport with mountains behind — photo by Nagarjun Kandukuru, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Air India and Drukair have signed an interline partnership that lets passengers book combined journeys on both airlines through a single ticket. The agreement connects Bhutan's national carrier to Air India's Delhi hub and, through it, to dozens of destinations across India and the world. For travellers, it turns a two-ticket, two-baggage-claim trek to the Himalayan kingdom into one seamless booking with coordinated baggage handling to the final destination.
The deal matters because Bhutan is one of the hardest capitals in Asia to reach. Paro's mountain-ringed airport admits only a handful of certified crews, and most visitors route through Delhi, Kolkata or Bangkok. A single-ticket path removes the biggest friction point: misconnected separate bookings with no protection when delays cascade.
What the Air India-Drukair interline covers
Under the agreement, Air India passengers can travel to Paro via Delhi from anywhere on the airline's international network, then connect onward on Drukair to three domestic points: Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula. Interline fares apply across the combined journey, and bags transfer automatically at connection points.
The partnership also pushes Air India's reach to nearly every country in the SAARC region through its own and partner networks, a milestone the airline's commercial chief framed as serving an "extended home market". Travellers who follow loyalty value should note Air India has been busy on the partnerships front, including its recent tie-up with IHG Hotels for Maharaja Club rewards.
What Drukair passengers gain
The flow works both ways. Drukair customers can connect through Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata onto Air India's domestic network, including Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kochi. Beyond India, they gain single-ticket access to Air India's long-haul map: Paris Charles de Gaulle, Colombo, Newark, Frankfurt, New York JFK, London Heathrow, Melbourne, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto Pearson and Vancouver.
That list transforms Drukair from a regional shuttle into a feeder for five continents. Airline partnerships of this shape are becoming the industry's preferred growth tool where mergers face regulatory heat; compare Singapore Airlines' approved joint venture with ANA, which pursues the same logic at a deeper level.
What the airlines said
"Our partnership with Drukair reinforces our commitment to strengthening connectivity across the SAARC region, which we consider our extended home market," said Nipun Aggarwal, Air India's chief commercial officer. "Bhutan is a valued part of this region, and we are happy to enable easy access to Bhutan for our guests."
Drukair chief executive Tandi Wangchuk called it "a significant milestone" for the airline, adding that customers gain "seamless journeys, expanded access to key international markets, and improved connectivity across India and beyond." Both airlines expect the pact to lift tourism and business travel between India, Bhutan and international markets.
How to book Bhutan on one ticket now
Combined Air India-Drukair itineraries should appear through travel agents and online booking platforms as the interline fares load into reservation systems. If you are planning a Bhutan trip, book the through-fare rather than stitching separate tickets: only the single ticket guarantees rebooking protection and automatic baggage transfer at Delhi. Remember that Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee and guide requirements apply regardless of how you arrive, so budget those alongside the airfare.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book Air India and Drukair on one ticket?
Yes. The new interline partnership allows single-ticket bookings combining both airlines, with coordinated baggage handling and passenger transfers through to your final destination.
Which Bhutan airports can I reach through the partnership?
International travellers route via Paro, Bhutan's main gateway. From Paro, onward Drukair connections cover the domestic airports at Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula.
Which Indian cities connect to Drukair flights?
Drukair passengers can connect through Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata onto Air India's network, including Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kochi domestically and long-haul points from London to Sydney.
Does the interline deal change Bhutan's tourist fees?
No. Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee and licensed-guide rules are government policy and apply however you arrive. The partnership only simplifies the flights.
