Druk Air to introduce Guwahati-Paro-Singapore flights

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 27: Druk Air, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bhutan, will introduce flights between Paro and Singapore via Guwahati from October this year.

Announcing the development during an official function of the Higher Education department here on Thursday afternoon Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said introduction of the Druk Air flights will be a major boost to improve air connectivity of the State with ASEAN countries. He said the development will go a long way in making Guwahati the gateway to the ASEAN countries. It may be noted that the Bhutanese Foreign Minister, Damcho Dorji had announced plan for introduction of Druk Air service between Guwahati-Paro and Singapore in February this year to take advantage of India’s Act East Policy initiatives.

Sonowal recently requested the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for expeditiously clearing all formalities so that operating of flights connecting Guwahati-Paro and Singapore soon becomes a reality.

The age-old bilateral ties between Bhutan and Assam got a boost recently when the tiny Himalayan country set up its consulate in Guwahati to facilitate better trade and people-to-people ties in the North Eastern region. The Chief Minister said he has already written to External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj requesting her to take up the matter of opening consulate offices in Guwahati with all ASEAN countries as part of the Centre’s Act East Policy.