Drukair – Royal Bhutan Airlines, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bhutan and a fully owned subsidiary of Druk Holding and Investments Limited (DHI), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the acquisition of three A320neo and two A321XLR aircraft to expand its international network. The new aircraft are expected to begin delivery in 2030.
The airline plans to operate these new aircraft from Paro International Airport and the upcoming airport at Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), envisioned to be Bhutan’s future economic hub. This expansion will enhance Drukair’s connectivity to Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Drukair currently operates a fleet of four Airbus A320 Family aircraft, consisting of three A319s and one A320.
GMC, located in the southern plains of Bhutan, is emerging as a new economic engine for the Kingdom, based on the vision of His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. As the national carrier, Drukair plays a pivotal role in supporting the prosperity of GMC and Bhutan by efficiently meeting growing transportation and logistics needs.
Mr. Tandi Wangchuk, CEO of Drukair, stated, “We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter in Drukair’s history, which dovetails perfectly with the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City and the expansion of the Gelephu airport. Our investment in these state-of-the-art aircraft underscores our dedication to supporting Bhutan’s vision of holistic and mindful development.”
Mr. Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, remarked, “We are grateful to Drukair for reaffirming their trust in Airbus to power their next phase of growth. Airbus has been a long-standing partner of Bhutan, and we are extremely proud that our latest generation aircraft will be a part of the Kingdom’s next chapter of development, connecting Gelephu Mindfulness City to the rest of the world.”
Headquartered in Paro, Bhutan, Drukair operates scheduled flights to 10 international destinations, including five countries in the South Asian region. The airline also serves three domestic destinations.
The A321neo, the largest member of Airbus’ best-selling A320neo Family, offers unparalleled range and performance. Incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo reduces noise by 50% and achieves more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximizing passenger comfort in the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky. To date, more than 6,400 A321neos have been ordered by over 90 customers worldwide.
The A321XLR, the next evolutionary step from the A320neo, responds to market needs for even more range and payload, delivering an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to 4,700 nautical miles—15% more range than the A321LR—and 30% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation competitor aircraft, along with reduced NOx emissions and noise. For passengers, the A321XLR’s new Airspace cabin provides the best travel experience, offering high-comfort seats in all classes, akin to a long-haul wide-body aircraft but with the low costs of a single-aisle aircraft. So far, Airbus has secured more than 500 orders for this aircraft.
As with all Airbus aircraft, the A320 family is already capable of operating with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims to make its aircraft 100% SAF-capable by 2030.
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