Odisha, Odisha — The Royal Bhutan Airlines has recently commenced thrice-a-week flights between Paro and Singapore, with a stopover at Guwahati’s Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, marking a significant development in air travel and trade between Bhutan and the northeastern states of India.

Background

Bhutan’s national flag carrier, Drukair, has been exploring alternative routes to cater to the growing demand for air travel in the region. The decision to fly east via Assam is a strategic move to leverage the refuelling convenience and faster access to the Gelephu Mindfulness City, a spiritualism-meets-business special administrative region bordering Assam. This development is expected to boost tourism and trade between Bhutan and the northeastern states of India.

Sequence of Events

According to reports, Drukair announced the commencement of its thrice-a-week flight between Paro and Singapore with a stopover at Guwahati’s Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport on a Friday. The airline also reintroduced the Paro-Guwahati-Bangkok flight, which was started a decade ago, twice a week. The key drivers behind this flight service are the “load penalty” at Paro International Airport and the Gelephu Mindfulness City, a spiritualism-meets-business special administrative region thrice the size of Singapore. Tandi Wangchuk, Drukair’s Chief Executive Officer, stated that flying to and from Guwahati makes commercial sense due to the load penalty at Paro and India’s push for rail and upgraded road links with Gelephu.

Community Impact

The community affected by this development includes the residents of Gelephu Mindfulness City, who are expected to benefit from the increased air connectivity. However, the impact on the local population is yet to be assessed. Official reports suggest that the Bhutanese government is keen to promote tourism and trade in the region, and this development is seen as a step in that direction.

Local Significance

The decision to fly east via Assam highlights the region’s potential as a hub for air travel and trade. The growth of the Gelephu Mindfulness City is also expected to create new opportunities for the local economy. As the region continues to develop, it is likely that we will see more investment in infrastructure and services to support the growing demand for air travel and trade.

What Happens Next

As the Royal Bhutan Airlines continues to operate its thrice-a-week flight between Paro and Singapore with a stopover at Guwahati’s Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, we can expect to see an increase in air travel and trade between Bhutan and the northeastern states of India. The growth of the Gelephu Mindfulness City is also expected to create new opportunities for the local economy, and it will be interesting to see how the region develops in the coming years.