Bhutan Airlines spreads its wings

Bhutan Airlines spreads its wings

JANUARY 16th, 2025. Seasonal flights serving several destinations in Southeast Asia, and Hong Kong to be inaugurated. Until now Bhutan Airlines’ only international destinations have been in India plus Kathmandu, and Bangkok via Kolkata. The company is planning to add Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and Penang, as well as Hong Kong.

However, at present, the carrier only has two planes, both Airbus A319-100s, so departure dates will seem a little inconsistent as the planes are shared between routes. During the summer there will be six round-trip flights between Paro and Hong Kong. Flight number B3788 will depart Paro on 28/01, 03/02, 22/04, 06/05, 22/06 and 04/08.

There will be eight trips to Ho Chi Minh City with flight number B3776 departing on 04/02, 09/02, 08/04, 13/04. 04/05, 02/09, 30/09, and 05/10

Flight number B3708 will also make eight trips between Paro and Kuala Lumpur with departures on 03/02, 02/04, 03/05, 29/05, 06/06, 04/09, 16/09 and 07/10

Penang will see only two visits with flight number B3768 making the journey on 03/06, and 18/09.

Most of the flights depart from Paro in the afternoons though times are varied. In all cases, the return flight to Paro departs the following day.

For passengers wanting to visit Bhutan, the return home could be a bit of a conundrum. A traveller from Hong Kong heading to Bhutan on February 4th, for example, will either have to stay until April 22nd or make a return trip with another airline and a stopover. Drukair, Bhutan’s flag carrier, doesn’t offer many more options.

Entry Requirements

With the exception of Indian nationals everyone needs a visa before entering Bhutan, and everyone needs to pay the Sustainable Development Fee. The visa is US$40 and valid for a stay of up to 90 days. The Sustainable Development Fee, which must be paid before the visa is issued, is US$100 per day and tends to put the brakes on many people’s plans for a long-term sojourn in one of the most beautiful and least developed destinations on earth.

Picture: Taktshang monastery, aka The Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan, by Soham Banerjee via Wikimedia Commons

Hotel suggestions
Zhiwa Ling Heritage Hotel

Related: Darjeeling: The Queen of the Hills