Airbus announced from the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow today that Drukair – Royal Bhutan Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the purchase of three Airbus A320neos and two A321XLRs.
On Monday (July 22, 2024), from the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow (FIA), Airbus announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Drukair-Royal Bhutan Airlines, a fully-owned subsidiary of the state holding company, Druk Holding and Investments Limited (DHI), for the purchase of five aircraft. The agreement includes three Airbus A320neos and two A321XLRs, which are expected for delivery from 2030. The carrier plans on operating these aircraft out of Paro International Airport and the new airport at Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), offering expanded connectivity to Europe, Southeast Asia and Australia. Currently, Drukair operates three Airbus A319s and one A320
In Monday’s announcement, Drukair’s CEO, Tandi Wangchuk, said,
“We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter in Drukair’s history, which dovetails perfectly with development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City and work to expand the Gelephu airport. Our investment in these state-of-the-art aircraft underscores our dedication to supporting Bhutan’s vision of holistic and mindful development.”
Also commenting on the new aircraft order, Airbus Commercial Aircraft’s Vice President of Sales, Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, added,
“We are grateful to Drukair for reaffirming their trust in Airbus to power their next phase of growth. Airbus has been a long-standing partner of Bhutan and we are extremely proud that our latest generation aircraft will be a part of the Kingdom’s next chapter of development, connecting the Gelephu Mindfulness City to the rest of the world.”
Headquartered in Paro, Bhutan, Drukair operates scheduled service to 10 international destinations, including routes to five countries in Southeast Asia, as well as three domestic destinations in the Kingdom of Bhutan.
The Airbus A321neo incorporates new generation engines and Sharklets to deliver a fuel use and CO2 emissions reduction of 20 percent, as well as a 50 percent smaller noise footprint compared to previous generation single aisle aircraft. To date, over 6,400 A321neos have been ordered by more than 90 customers worldwide. The A321XLR (Xtra Long Range) will offer an unprecedented range of up to 4,700 nautical miles, 15 percent more than the A321LR, while delivering a 30 percent lower fuel burn per seat versus previous generation competitor aircraft, as well as reduced NOx emissions and noise. So far, Airbus has won over 500 A321XLR orders.
Source: Airbus