- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Flights to Bhutan 2027
Flights to Bhutan: routes, airlines and how to book
Every way to fly into Paro and Gelephu in 2027, which airlines fly them, how often, how to book, and what to do when the weather moves your flight.
- Drukair and Bhutan Airlines
- Updated October 2026
- We book and hold seats
2
Airlines fly into Bhutan
10
Departure cities
2,235 m
Paro airport elevation, approx.
2 a week
Gelephu to Kolkata flights
How it works
Two airlines, one famous runway
Only two airlines fly into Bhutan: Drukair, the national carrier, and the private Bhutan Airlines. Almost all international flights land at Paro, in a narrow valley surrounded by ridges. Pilots need special training, flights operate in daylight, and the final approach banks between hills before lining up with the runway. Passengers tend to remember it.
Since December 2025, Drukair has also flown between Gelephu in southern Bhutan and Kolkata, twice a week. Gelephu, Bumthang and Yonphula also have domestic flights. Because flights into Paro are few and small, they fill early in spring, autumn and festival weeks.
- Book Paro flights as soon as your dates are set
- Flights can wait for weather, so leave a buffer
- Your visa letter is checked when you check in
Routes
Where you can fly to Bhutan from
Routes and frequencies checked in October 2026. Schedules change by season, so we confirm them for your dates.
| From | Airline | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | Drukair, Bhutan Airlines | Daily or near daily | Easy connection from Europe, the Gulf and North America |
| Kathmandu | Drukair, Bhutan Airlines | Daily or near daily | Himalayan views on a clear day |
| Bangkok | Drukair, Bhutan Airlines | Daily or near daily | Drukair also flies via Guwahati. Thai Airways interline since October 2025 |
| Kolkata | Drukair, Bhutan Airlines | Several a week | Good for eastern India |
| Singapore | Drukair | Three a week via Guwahati | Short stop in Guwahati |
| Dhaka | Drukair | Twice a week | For Bangladesh |
| Bagdogra and Guwahati | Drukair | Twice a week each | North-east India |
| Gaya | Drukair | Seasonal, winter | Popular with pilgrims |
| Kolkata to Gelephu | Drukair | Twice a week | Since 8 December 2025, to southern Bhutan |
| Dubai | Drukair | Suspended through 2026 | We will confirm any restart for 2027 |
Bhutan Airlines has also listed Pokhara in Nepal. Ask us for the current schedule on any route.
Connections
Best way to fly to Bhutan from your region
From Europe
Nonstop to Delhi or Bangkok, then on to Paro. Gulf airlines connect smaller cities.
From North America
Via Delhi, or across the Pacific to Bangkok or Singapore. Usually two connections.
From East and South-east Asia
Via Bangkok or Singapore. The Thai Airways and Drukair interline helps with bags.
From Australia
Via Singapore or Bangkok. Thai Airways interlines with Drukair from several Australian cities.
From the Middle East
Via Delhi, Dhaka or Kathmandu while the Dubai route is suspended.
From India
Fly from several cities, or go overland via Phuentsholing or Gelephu.
Booking
How to book flights to Bhutan
Book with your tour, or on your own
You can book Drukair and Bhutan Airlines tickets on their websites. Many guests let their tour operator book instead, so the dates match the visa, SDF and hotels, and so someone in Bhutan can rebook if a flight moves. We book and hold seats as soon as you confirm your itinerary.
Fares
Fares to Paro are high for the distance, because aircraft are small and few airlines serve the route. A return from Delhi or Kathmandu often costs several hundred US dollars, and Bangkok or Singapore costs more. Book early for April, October and festival weeks, when seats run out first.
Connections
Paro flights are not always on the same ticket as your long-haul flight. Drukair has interline agreements with Thai Airways and Air India, which allow some routes to be booked with bags checked through. Otherwise, plan a night in the hub city on the way in and a generous gap on the way home.
Seats and views
Flying into Paro from Delhi or Kathmandu, sit on the left for the best chance of seeing Everest, Kanchenjunga and the Bhutan Himalaya. Check in online when it opens to get a window seat.
On the day
Arriving at and leaving Paro airport
Arriving
Paro is a small airport with a terminal built in traditional style. You walk across the apron, show your passport and visa approval letter at immigration, and the visa is stamped into your passport. Customs is quick for most people. Your guide waits outside the exit with a sign, and the drive to Thimphu takes about an hour, or a few minutes if you are staying in Paro.
Leaving
Departures are usually in the morning. Arrive about two hours before your flight, though the airport is small and queues are short. Keep some ngultrum or dollars for a last coffee. If your onward connection is on a separate ticket, leave several hours, or plan a night in the hub city.
Baggage
Allowances on Paro flights can be lower than on long-haul flights, and excess baggage is charged. Check your ticket and pack light. Trekkers carrying sleeping bags and boots should check the limits early.
Weather and delays
When flights to Paro are delayed
Why it happens
Pilots land by sight, so low cloud or strong afternoon winds can hold flights. Mornings are usually calmer.
Build a buffer
Arrive in the hub city the day before, and avoid tight same-day connections on the way out.
We handle changes
If your flight moves, we rebook hotels and rework the plan. Unused SDF nights are refundable.
Other ways in
Domestic flights, helicopters and land borders
Domestic flights
Paro to Bumthang, Gelephu and Yonphula on set days. They save long drives on cross-country trips.
Helicopters
Charter flights and scenic flights from Paro, from about USD 2,500 for a 30-minute scenic flight.
By land
Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar border India. International visitors need visa clearance and a guide waiting.
Flights to Bhutan: questions
Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. No foreign airline flies into Bhutan.
No. Fly to a hub such as Delhi, Bangkok, Kathmandu or Singapore, then connect to Paro.
A return from Delhi or Kathmandu often costs several hundred US dollars. Bangkok and Singapore cost more. Fares rise in peak season.
Yes. Drukair flies Kolkata to Gelephu twice a week since December 2025. International visitors still need visa clearance.
It is challenging, which is why only specially trained pilots fly it, in daylight and good visibility. Its safety record is good.
Yes. Airlines check your visa approval letter at check-in.
Free trip planning
Book flights with your Bhutan tour
Tell us your dates and where you are flying from. We will check flights, hold seats and match them to your itinerary.
- Free personalised consultation
- No booking fees, ever
- A reply within 24 hours
- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- +975 17533776
- +975 77495028
- info@deyabhutantours.com
- Thimphu, Bhutan
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