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In what would be the first direct airline connection between the Gulf region and Bhutan post-pandemic, starting January 2024, Bhutan Airlines will operate flights between Paro International Airport and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The airline made this announcement at its 10th-anniversary celebrations held at Pemako Hotel in Thimphu.
Bhutan Airlines has applied to operate a bi-weekly service from Paro to Sharjah, with a stopover in Dhaka. This proposed route would ease the journey to Bhutan for travellers in the west, especially those residing or transiting through the GCC region, significantly cutting down their overall travel time, the airline said.
During the event, Bhutan Airlines also launched a new partnership with World Ticket (W2), a GDS sub-hosting service, offering a virtual code-share arrangement that provides a global distribution and ticketing solution. This partnership, which is effective immediately, will make Bhutan Airlines flights accessible and available for sale through a wide range of GDS channels and OTAs, including access to 180 BSP markets through W2.
Additionally, Bhutan Airlines’ CEO, Pema Nadik, disclosed the signing of a bilateral interline ticketing agreement with Thai Airways in June 2023. Notably, the reservation systems of both airlines have been seamlessly integrated for bilateral Interline E-Ticket (IET), allowing Thai Airways and Bhutan Airlines to issue tickets for each other’s routes. The next step involves launching Inter Airline Through Check-in (IATCI) with Thai Airways, simplifying travel for passengers connecting to and from Bhutan.Other announcements included the official carrier partnership with the Bhutan Olympic Committee, asserting Bhutan Airlines’ commitment to supporting and promoting the spirit of sports for Bhutanese athletes participating in international events.
Bhutan Airlines commenced its journey in 2013 with domestic operations utilising an 8-seater Pilatus aircraft. Within a short span of time, it expanded its services to international destinations, introducing the state-of-the-art Airbus 320 family of aircraft. During the boom years of Bhutan’s tourism from 2017 to 2019, Bhutan Airlines transported nearly 400,000 passengers, shared the CEO.
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