DRUKAIR

Druk Air is the only National Airline based in Paro, Bhutan. The national airline of Bhutan operates scheduled services to five cities in neighboring countries as listed below. It was established by Royal Proclamation on 5 April 1981 and operations began on 14 January 1983 using an 18-seat Dornier 228-200. Services were operated from Paro to Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) and Dhaka.

Jet services with BAe 146-100 aircraft started in November 1988 and with their introduction the network was able to be increased to link Paro with New Delhi, Bangkok and Kathmandu. The first commercial flight with an Airbus A319 took place on 31 October 2004.

Paro Airport (IATA: PBH, ICAO: VQPR) is the main, and the only airport in Bhutan 6 km (3 miles) away from Paro. It is located in a steep valley on the bank of a river. The airport has one runway and serves a single airline, the national carrier Druk Air. There is four passenger and one cargo terminal and 2 aircraft stands. There are also 4 check-in desks and one gate.

CHECK IN:

The reporting time is two hours prior to flight departure. All counters are closed 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of the flight.

RESERVATION:

For all your travel requirements, please contact YANA Expeditions, Inc.

RECONFIRMATION:

All reservations must be confirmed at least 72 hours before scheduled departure. Failure to reconfirm will result in cancellation of booking without any notice.

VALIDITY:

Ticket issued against full fare is valid for a period of one year, except as otherwise provided in the ticket.

AIRPORT TAX/TRAVEL TAX:

Airport travel tax is payable by all passengers before embarking a flight. The amount of airport/travel tax varies with sectors:

INSURANCE SURCHARGE (YQ):

An Insurance Surcharge of US$ 5 per segment is levied on all passengers. The YQ is collected at the time of ticket issuance, however if omitted in the ticket, airline check-in personnel will collect the YQ.

FUEL SURCHARGE (YR):

Fuel Surcharge of US$ 7 per segment is levied on all passengers except those traveling from Kolkata to Bangkok and vice versa, Dhaka to Bangkok and vice versa, Kathmandu to Delhi and vice versa, and Gaya to Bangkok and vice versa.

PASSENGER SERVICE FEES (PSF):

For travel ex-India, a Passenger Service Fee of Rs. 225 is levied on passengers for tickets issued in India and US$ 6 in equivalent local currency for tickets issued outside India. The PSF is collected at the time of ticket issuance, however if omitted in the ticket, airline check-in personnel will collect the PSF.

SERVICE TAX ON BUSINESS CLASS:

All business class passengers embarking from India are subject to an additional 12.36 per cent Service Tax on the airfare inclusive of surcharges and taxes. The tax will be collected at the time of issuance of ticket. If mistakenly omitted, the airline check-in personnel will collect the tax. Service Tax is not applicable to U.N. Agencies. This is as per the directives issued by the Service Tax Directorate, Government of India. 

CHANGE IN FARES:

Fares are subject to change without notice. In the event of a passenger commencing journey after the revised tariff becomes effective, the difference between the fare paid and the fare applicable will be collected from the passenger before embarkation.

CANCELLATION AND REFUND:

Refund of the ticket can only be made the issuing office. For conditions for refund, please contact YANA Expeditions, Inc. NO REFUND CAN BE MADE AGAINST LOST DOCUMENTS. Passengers are particularly requested to note that tickets are cash value documents and must be physically presented for refund.

NO-SHOW:

There will be a rebooking administration fee of US$ 25 (Two Five) for No-Show passengers wishing to travel at a later date.

VALUABLE ARTICLES:

Currency, precious metals, jewellery, negotiable instruments, securities, personal identification documents and other items of value are best carried with the passenger in the cabin.

FREE BAGGAGE:
Following registered baggage is allowed free of charge:

Unless otherwise stated by the ticketing carrier, the free baggage allowed when traveling under discounted fares shall be the same as that of full fare paying passengers.

HAND BAGGAGE:

To comply with the security regulations, passengers may carry one hand baggage which comprise:

A lady’s handbag

An overcoat or a wrap

An umbrella or a walking stick

A small camera and a pair of binoculars

A reasonable amount of reading materials for the flight

For invalid passenger, a fully collapsible invalid wheel chair and/or a pair of crutches.

All other items, such as typewriters, briefcases, overnight bags, personal radios, vanity cases, large cameras, etc. will be weighed with other baggage, and will be subject to payment of excess baggage charges if the total weight exceeds the free baggage allowance.

DANGEROUS GOODS:

For safety reasons the following articles are not allowed to be carried in passenger baggage:

Compressed gases (non-inflammable and poisonous)

Corrosives (such as acids, alkalis and wet cell batteries)

Explosives, ammunitions, fireworks and flares.

Flammable liquids and solids (such as lighter and heating fuels, matches and articles which are easily ignited)

Oxidizing material (such as bleaching powder and peroxides)

Poisons

Radioactive materials

Other restricted articles (viz., mercury, magnetized material, offensive or irritating material.

Briefcases or attaché cases with installed alarm devices, or incorporative lithium batteries and/pyrotechnic material.

Also carriage of dry cell batteries, knives, scissors, sharp instruments, tools, fire alarms, and ammunition, toy replicas are prohibited in the passenger cabin.

Note: Medicinal and toilet articles which are necessary for a passenger during the journey, may be carried in small quantities in the passenger cabin without prior approval.

DRUK AIR IN-FLIGHT SERVICES:

Meals are served after a flight is airborne for reasonable duration:

The timings are:

On one-hour sector flight, snacks are served. Refreshments and drinks are served throughout the duration of the flight.

IMPORT REGULATIONS:

BHUTAN:

- 200 cigarettes on payment of import duty of 200 %

- Alcoholic beverages up to 1 litre

INDIA:

(Import by non-residents is only permitted if they either enter India for a stay of not less than 24 hours and not more than two months, provided they visit India not more than once a month.)

A person of 17 years and older is allowed:

- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco

- One bottle (0.95 L) of alcoholic liquor

- 2 ounces of perfume and 1 litre of toilet water

NEPAL:

- 100 cigarettes or an equivalent of other tobacco articles

- 1 quart of alcoholic liquor

- A reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use

THAILAND:

Each passenger holding a passport of his/her own, irrespective of age is allowed:

- 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or equal weight of cigars

- 1 litre of alcoholic liquor

Rules for taking Liquids, Aerosols and Gels through Suvarnabhumi Airport (Thailand):

If you wish you to take liquids, and gels which include items such as drinks, creams, perfumes, sprays, gels, toothpaste, lipstick, lip balm and similar substances. Items through the screening point as “carry on” make sure:

• Each item is 100 ml or less
• All items fit in a transparent, one litre bag (about 20 x 20 cm)
• The bag is sealed
• Only one bag per person is allowed

If the items weigh more than 100 ml, place them in your check-in baggage. Kindly adhere by the rules as items once seized are not returned.

CARRIAGE OF FIREARMS:

Carriage of firearms, ammunition, and other weapons on the passenger’s person is expressly prohibited. These should be handed over to Drukair before embarking for delivery at the destination.

SECURITY REGULATIONS:

According to security regulations, passengers are advised:

• Not to accept any baggage/packet from unknown persons.
• Not to leave baggage, unobserved at anytime especially within airport area. Unattended baggage may be removed by Airport/Security Staff as object of suspicion.
• To declare before check-in, if carrying any arms or explosive substance. Concealment is an offence under Aircraft Act & Rules.
• To carry only one hand baggage. Its sum of three dimensions (viz. length, breadth and height) should not exceed 100 cms.
• To remove battery cells/dry cells from radios, transistor sets, two-in-ones and other such electrical/electronic items and hand them over to the airline staff before security check or carry them in registered baggage.

SECURITY CHECKS:

All passengers and their baggage are subjected to security checks before boarding a flight. Transit passengers are therefore requested to remain on board at transit stations as, otherwise, they will be again subject to security checks.

Destinations

        Bangladesh - (Dhaka)

        India - (Gaya, Kolkata, New Delhi)

        Nepal - (Kathmandu)

        Thailand - (Bangkok)

DRUK AIR FLIGHT SCHEDULES

        Druk Air Winter Flight Schedule (Effective 15th Feb - 24th Mar)

        Druk Air Summer Flight Schedule (Effective 25th Mar - 14th May)

        Druk Air Summer Flight Schedule (Effective 15th May - 26th Oct)

        Druk Air Additional Schedule (Paro Tsechu)

For more information, please refer the Druk Air Website.