Airline codes
KB · DRK
IATA · ICAO · callsign “ROYAL BHUTAN”
Look for KB in front of the number on your ticket: that prefix marks a flight sold under the Drukair code. Enter KB and the number to follow a Drukair departure.
Drukair (KB) Guide
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Paro flights to Dhaka, Bangkok, India, Nepal, Singapore and Dubai: routes, fleet, baggage, check-in and tips for flying Drukair in and out of Bhutan. Ask a question
In short
Drukair, also called Royal Bhutan Airlines, is the national airline of Bhutan, based at Paro International. It flies to Dhaka, Bangkok, India, Kathmandu, Singapore and Dubai, linking Paro with South and Southeast Asia. Drukair is not in an alliance. Cabins are Business and Economy, with 30 kg checked in Economy and 40 kg in Business on international flights.
Drukair is Bhutan's government-owned national carrier, flying from a single hub at Paro.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Drukair. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
What to expect
Drukair, also known as Royal Bhutan Airlines, is the national airline of Bhutan. It was set up by royal charter on 5 April 1981 and flew its first scheduled service, Paro to Kolkata, in February 1983 with a Dornier 228. Its home and head office are at Paro International Airport, in a narrow valley west of Thimphu.
Drukair is also the only airline with a direct flight between Dhaka and Paro, as Bhutan Airlines does not serve Bangladesh. Fares and dates are on Dhaka to Paro flights and Paro to Dhaka flights. The route does not run daily, so plan a Bhutan trip around its operating days. Every visitor also has to arrange Bhutan's entry formalities and pay the Sustainable Development Fee, so settle those before paying for the ticket.
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi is the airline's biggest foreign station. Some flights run nonstop between Bangkok and Paro; others call at Bagdogra, the airport for Siliguri in West Bengal, or at Guwahati in Assam, where Drukair restarted twice-weekly Bangkok service on 2 April 2026. Those stops mean a passenger can also fly Bangkok to Bagdogra on Drukair without going on to Bhutan. Compare dates on Bangkok to Paro flights and Paro to Bangkok flights.
Elsewhere, Drukair links Paro with Delhi, Kolkata, Gaya, Kathmandu, Singapore (via Guwahati) and Dubai, and flies domestically to Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula. It has interline agreements with Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and Air India.
How did Drukair grow?
Drukair began with a 1983 Dornier 228 on the Kolkata route and added Dhaka in October 1986, which makes Dhaka one of its oldest routes. Jets came in November 1988 with British Aerospace BAe 146-100s, and routes to Delhi, Bangkok and Kathmandu opened in 1988 and 1989. Paro's runway was extended to 2,000 m in 1990; the original strip was only 1,200 m long, which limited the aircraft that could use it.
An Airbus A319 made a demonstration landing at Paro in February 2002, the largest aircraft to have landed there at that point. The first A319 for the airline arrived on 19 October 2004 and entered service on 31 October 2004, and the BAe 146s were sold to Star Peru in 2007. That same year Drukair posted its first profit, BTN 31.15 million. In June 2009 it became the first international airline to fly into Bagdogra, and until 23 August 2010 it was the only airline flying into Bhutan at all.
Why is flying into Paro special?
Paro International Airport lies at about 2,235 m in a valley surrounded by mountains rising to around 4,900 m. The terrain limits which aircraft can operate there, which is why the airline's jets have grown in size only step by step, from the BAe 146 to the A319 and A320neo.
Who owns Drukair?
The airline is owned by the Government of Bhutan through Druk Holding and Investments, its parent company since November 2007, and the chief executive is Tandi Wangchuk. Its IATA code is KB, the ICAO code is DRK and the radio call sign is ROYAL BHUTAN. Druk Air Helicopter Services runs three Eurocopter EC130 helicopters for charters inside the country. HappinesSMiles, the loyalty scheme, started in 2014.
Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk
Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change
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Good to know
- AllianceNone
- Founded1981
- Online check-inYes
Everything you should know
At a glance
Drukair (IATA: KB, ICAO: DRK), also called Royal Bhutan Airlines, is the national airline of Bhutan, founded in 1981 and based at Paro International Airport. It flies Airbus A319, A320neo and ATR 42-600 aircraft to Dhaka, Bangkok, India, Kathmandu, Singapore and Dubai, with Business and Economy cabins.
| Headquarters | Paro, Bhutan |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Airbus A319-100, A320neo, ATR 42-600, Pilatus PC-24 |
| Official website | drukair.com.bt |
Flight routes
Destinations and routes
Drukair publishes its timetable month by month, and routes such as Gaya, Guwahati, Kolkata and Mumbai are listed as seasonal. These are destinations listed on its website; confirm the current schedule when you search.
Search flights
Thailand
Paro (PBH) departures1 destination
FromTo PBH BKK ParoBangkok Suvarnabhumi Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
Bangladesh and Nepal
Paro (PBH) departures2 destinations
FromTo PBH DAC ParoDhaka Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
FromTo PBH KTM ParoKathmandu Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
India
Paro (PBH) departures5 destinations
FromTo PBH DEL ParoDelhi Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
FromTo PBH CCU ParoKolkata Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
FromTo PBH IXB ParoBagdogra Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
FromTo PBH GAU ParoGuwahati Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
FromTo PBH GAY ParoGaya Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
Bhutan
Paro (PBH) departures3 destinations
FromTo PBH BUT ParoBumthang Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
FromTo PBH GLU ParoGelephu Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
FromTo PBH YON ParoYonphula Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
Singapore and UAE
Paro (PBH) departures2 destinations
FromTo PBH SIN ParoSingapore Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
FromTo PBH DXB ParoDubai Available airlines1 airline- Drukair
Fleet and aircraft
As of November 2025 the airline flew three Airbus A319-100s, one A320neo, one ATR 42-600 turboprop for domestic and short regional flights and a Pilatus PC-24 business jet, with two Airbus A321XLRs on order. The small fleet explains why schedules are tight and why a single technical problem can disturb several days of flights.
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Airbus A319-100 Narrow-body Most international routes, 16 business and 102 economy seats
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Airbus A320neo Narrow-body Higher-demand sectors, 20 business and 120 economy seats
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ATR 42-600 Turboprop Domestic Bhutan and short regional hops, 40 seats
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Pilatus PC-24 Business jet Charter and special flights, 7 seats
Cabin classes
Two cabins.
Business Front cabin
On Airbus and ATR
40 kg checked internationally7 kg cabin bagSeparate cabin
Economy Main cabin
Every flight
30 kg checked internationally5 kg cabin bag45 x 35 x 20 cm bag size
Frequent flyer programme
Details of the Drukair loyalty programme are being added
Add your membership number when you book to earn miles.
Baggage allowance
Your allowance depends on your cabin and whether the flight is international or domestic. The exact amount is printed on your booking.
Economy checked
30 kg international
Business checked
40 kg international
Economy cabin bag
5 kg, 45 x 35 x 20 cm
Heaviest single bag
32 kg
International flights include 30 kg checked in economy and 40 kg in business. Cabin baggage is 5 kg in economy and 7 kg in business, within 45 x 35 x 20 cm.
Pro tip: keep the carry-on light; the 5 kg economy limit is checked at boarding.
Travel day
Online Check-in
Drukair check-in comes down to four steps, from checking in online to dropping your bags at Paro International.
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Step 1
Check in online
Where your flight allows it, check in on drukair.com.bt or app with your surname and booking reference or e-ticket number.
Booking ref + surname -
Step 2
Prepare your documents
International Drukair passengers need a passport and whatever visa, residence permit or entry documents the destination requires.
Passport · visa · ID -
Step 3
Arrive early
Get to the airport with time for Drukair check-in, bag drop and security. The airline sets a deadline for each airport, shown in your booking, and late arrivals can lose their seat.
Well before departure -
Step 4
Drop your bags
At the airport, take your bags to the Drukair bag-drop point. Collect a printed KB boarding pass there if you have not saved one to your phone.
Drukair counter
Ready to check in?
Check in and manage your booking on the official Drukair website.
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Cheap tickets
Habits that make a Drukair trip smoother, whether you board in Paro, Bangkok or an Indian city.
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01
Fly nonstop where you can
Drukair runs nonstop services into Paro from cities such as Bangkok and Dhaka, which saves a change of plane. Fix your Bhutan dates around the operating days.
Fewer connections -
02
Weigh the carry-on
A camera bag and a laptop can pass 5 kg quickly. Move heavy items into the 30 kg checked allowance before you reach the airport.
5 kg economy -
03
Read the Bangkok routing
A Bangkok flight via Bagdogra or Guwahati takes longer than the nonstop. Choose the routing that suits your arrival time in Paro.
Nonstop or via India -
04
Reconfirm and complete forms
Reconfirm the booking 72 hours ahead and fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card when flying to Bangkok.
72 hours out -
05
Pack a light carry-on
The checked allowance is generous at 30 kg in economy, but the cabin limit is only 5 kg and 45 x 35 x 20 cm, smaller than most airlines allow. Pack a light carry-on, because staff run spot checks at boarding and move oversized bags to the hold.
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Visitors are asking
KB, with the ICAO code DRK.
Paro International Airport (PBH), Bhutan.
HappinesSMiles, its own programme.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Everything travellers ask before flying Drukair.
We check these Drukair answers with the airline’s own sources and aviation references every season.
General
Yes. Drukair operates a nonstop service between Hazrat Shahjalal International in Dhaka and Paro. Check the operating days on Dhaka to Paro flights.
Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Guwahati and Gaya appear in its published network, and some Bangkok flights stop in Bagdogra or Guwahati on the way.
Yes. Drukair sells the Indian stop as a destination in its own right, which is handy for Siliguri, Darjeeling or Assam. You will need the right Indian visa to get off there.
On international flights, 30 kg in economy and 40 kg in business. Domestic flights within Bhutan allow 20 kg and 30 kg. No single bag may exceed 32 kg.
Drukair limits economy hand baggage to 5 kg and business to 7 kg, both within 45 x 35 x 20 cm and no more than 100 cm in total. Staff spot-check bags at boarding and send anything over the limit to the hold.
HappinesSMiles is the Drukair frequent flyer programme. Members earn miles on flights and can use them for award flights and upgrades, with Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers.
Yes. Its A319s carry 16 business seats and the A320neo 20, ahead of the economy cabin. The ATR 42-600 also has a small 8-seat front cabin.
Drukair has interline agreements with Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and Air India, so a travel agent may be able to issue one ticket with your bag checked through. On separate tickets you collect your bag and check in again.
Getting there
Some are and some are not. Certain Drukair flights stop at Bagdogra or Guwahati in India before continuing to Paro, which lengthens the journey but adds no change of aircraft.
No. Bhutan Airlines is a separate, privately owned carrier run by Tashi Air. It also flies to Bangkok, but it sells its own tickets and has a smaller network.
Besides its Paro base, Drukair lists Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula as domestic destinations.
Paro International Airport sits at about 2,235 m in a valley ringed by mountains up to around 4,900 m, and its runway is about 2,000 m long.
Stay & facilities
Web check-in opens 72 hours before departure and closes 4 hours before. Airport counters open 3 hours ahead and close 1 hour before the flight.
Booking
Drukair advises passengers to reconfirm 72 hours before departure. It takes a minute and protects you if timings have moved.
Prices & payment
Drukair reminds passengers that non-Thai nationals must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within 3 days before arrival. Do it before you leave Paro.
