SINGAPORE, 28 August 2012 – Changi Airport today welcomed the arrival of Drukair, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bhutan, which is situated in the Himalayas between China and India.

A special inaugural flight from the Bhutanese city of Paro landed at Changi Airport this afternoon with Her Royal Highness Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck, the eldest princess of the Bhutan royal family, on board. Her Royal Highness is leading a delegation here to inaugurate the commencement of Drukair’s direct service between Paro and Singapore. She is accompanied by the Bhutan Minister of Information and Communication, and Chairman of Druk Holdings and Investment, among other senior government officials.

Drukair’s Paro-Singapore route begins commercial service on 1 September 2012. The commencement of this twice-weekly service means passengers departing from Singapore can now reach Bhutan in under six hours, saving an overnight transfer stay in Thailand or India as visitors currently have to do. Singapore is only the fifth country to be linked to Bhutan by air.

Singapore boasts strong ties with Bhutan. Apart from cooperation at both the government and people-to-people levels in areas such as education, healthcare and media, there has been a strong increase in the number of Singapore travellers heading to Bhutan. In 2011, about 1,300 visitors from Singapore headed for Bhutan, representing an increase of more than 70% over 20101. Bhutan received over 64,000 visitors in 20112.

Drukair will operate a two-class configuration using the A319 aircraft on the Paro- Singapore service. The flight arrives in Singapore from Paro at 1515 hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while the return flight from Singapore to Paro features an early morning departure out of Changi at 0600 hours on Thursdays and Sundays. The flight reaches Paro at 0945 hours, allowing travellers the entire day ahead to explore Bhutan. Drukair will operate at Changi Airport’s Terminal 1. The flight details are as follows:

Changi’s commitment of support
Changi Airport Group’s Executive Vice President for Air Hub Development, Mr Yam Kum Weng, said, “In recent years, more people in Singapore and the region are looking forward to visiting Bhutan to experience its unspoilt, exotic beauty and rich culture. Drukair’s commencement of flights from Paro to Singapore is timely in meeting this increasing market demand, and enhancing the people-to-people exchange between the two countries. Changi Airport Group is pleased to partner with the Tourism Council of Bhutan and Drukair to promote the Kingdom of Bhutan and the direct air link both in Singapore and the region.”

Mr Tandin Jamso, Chief Executive Officer of Drukair, said, “Drukair is honoured by the warm welcome given by Singapore. For Drukair, Singapore is not just another destination, but an opportunity to bring our two nations and people together. Drukair aims to connect Singapore to Bhutan, and afford its people an opportunity to experience a way of life that is slowly fading in many countries, an opportunity to experience happiness like the Bhutanese. The goal of Drukair is to eventually make Singapore our gateway to the world.”

Paro is a new city link for Changi Airport and follows the addition of the Gold Coast (Australia) and Kota Bahru (Malaysia) to the Changi network.

Changi Airport serves some 100 airlines operating more than 6,200 weekly flights to over 220 cities in 60 countries and territories worldwide.