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Paro International Airport

(Redirected fromParo Airport)
"Paro Airport" redirects here. Not to be confused withFaro Airport.

Paro International Airport(Dzongkha:སྤ་རོ་གནམ་ཐང༌།,romanized:paro gnam thang) (IATA:PBH,ICAO:VQPR) is the soleinternational airportof thefour airportsinBhutan.It is 6 kilometres (3.7 mi; 3.2 nmi) fromParoin a deep valley on the bank of the riverParo Chhu.With surrounding peaks as high as 5,500 metres (18,000 ft), it is considered one of the world's most challenging airports,[2]and only a very small number of pilots are certified to land at the airport.[3]

Paro Airport

སྤ་རོ་གནམ་ཐང༌།
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorDepartment of Civil Aviation of Bhutan
ServesThimphuandParo
LocationParo,Paro District,Bhutan
Hubfor
ElevationAMSL2,235 m / 7,332 ft
Coordinates27°24′32″N089°25′14″E/ 27.40889°N 89.42056°E/27.40889; 89.42056
Websiteparoairport.com
Map
PBH is located in Bhutan
PBH
PBH
Location within Bhutan
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
15/33[1] 2,265[1] 7,431 Asphalt
This article containsTibetan script.Without properrendering support,you may see very small fonts, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead ofTibetan characters.

Flights to and from Paro are allowed undervisual meteorological conditionsonly and are restricted to daylight hours from sunrise to sunset,[4][5]with additional restrictions in the afternoon during windy seasons.[6][7]Paro airport was the only airport in Bhutan until 2011.[8]The airport is accessible by road, 6 km (3.7 mi; 3.2 nmi) fromParocity, and 54 km (34 mi; 29 nmi) fromThimphubyParo-Thimphu road.

History

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Airport interior, 2011
DrukairAirbus A319-115 parked at the airport terminal at Paro Airport in 2006

In 1968, theIndian Border Roads Organisationbuilt anairstripin theParovalley,which was initially used for on-callhelicopteroperations by theIndian Armed Forceson behalf of theRoyal Government of Bhutan.Bhutan's first airline,Drukair,was established byRoyal Charteron 5 April 1981.

Paro Airport is deep in a valley 2,235 m (7,332 ft)above mean sea leveland is surrounded bymountainsas high as 5,500 m (18,000 ft).[9]The airport was constructed with a 1,200 m (3,900 ft)runway,[10]giving the Bhutanese government specific requirements for a choice of aircraft to be operated from Paro. They required an 18–20 seatSTOL-capable aircraft with operating capabilities which included a highservice ceiling,highrate of climband high manoeuvrability. The major requirement for the aircraft was that it must be capable of flyingKolkata– Paro – Kolkata, a 1,200 km (750 mi; 650 nmi) round-trip, without refuelling, due to minimalinfrastructureavailability at Paro. Three aircraft types were considered afterflight teststhat had been conducted in India and Bhutan between 1978 and 1980; however, none was deemed suitable.[10]

In mid-1981, theIndian governmentset up a committee to study its own requirements for a light transport aircraft. Based upon this study, the Bhutanese government ordered oneDornier 228-200for delivery in January 1983, with the option for a second aircraft for delivery in late 1983. The first 18-seat Dornier 228-200 landed at Paro Airport on 14 January 1983. The exact time of landing, the number of passengers on board and even the direction the aircraft was parked on the airport apron were predetermined by thehigh lamaofParo Dzong.[10]

Drukairinaugurated scheduled commercial flights from Paro on 11 February 1983, with Flight 101 departing Paro for Kolkata and returning the next day as Flight 102. At the time of service commencement, Paro Airport consisted of the runway, a two-roomair traffic controlbuilding (with the ground floor acting as thecheck-incounter) and adeparture loungeon the lawn.[11]Before the establishment of theDepartment of Civil Aviationin January 1986, Drukair was also responsible for the operation and maintenance of the airport's infrastructure.[12]

In 1990, the runway at Paro Airport was lengthened from 1,402 to 1,964 m (4,600 to 6,445 ft) and reinforced for heavier aircraft.[13][14]Ahangarwas constructed for the aircraft, which was funded by the Indian government as part of the Paro Airport Development Project.[15]

On 21 November 1988, Drukair's first jet, aBAe 146-100,was delivered to Paro Airport. In 2003, Drukair was seeking a replacement for the BAe 146 and on 19 October 2004 the airline's firstAirbus A319-100arrived in Paro.[16]

Buddha Airbecame the first international airline to operate charters to Paro in August 2010.[17][18]Tashi Air,Bhutan's first private airline, was started in December 2011.[19]In 2012, it was reported that 181,659 passengers used the airport.[20]By 2018, this number had grown to 397,599 and 6,761 flights were handled by the airport.[citation needed]The airport got 4 new structures: modified departure terminal building, cargo building, the relocated substation, and a parallel taxiway.[21]

Facilities

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The airport has a single 2,265 m (7,431 ft)asphaltrunway,[1]and there is oneterminalbuilding that was commissioned in 1999.[22]In 2022, the interior was revamped, adding many art pieces.[23]

Airlines and destinations

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AirlinesDestinations
Bhutan AirlinesBangkok–Suvarnabhumi,Delhi,Kathmandu,Kolkata,Kuala Lumpur-International(begins 20 December 2024)[24]
Seasonal:Bangalore,[25][26]Gaya,[27]Ho Chi Minh City(begins 31 January 2025),[28]Mumbai[29][30]
DrukairBagdogra,Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi,Delhi,Dhaka,Dubai–International,[31]Gelephu,Guwahati,[32]Jakar,Kathmandu,Kolkata,Singapore,[32]Trashigang
Seasonal:Gaya,[33]Mumbai
Charter:Ho Chi Minh City,Hong Kong[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abc"About Us".Paro Airport.Retrieved3 January2022.
  2. ^Cruz, Magaly; Wilson, James; Nelson, Buzz (July 2003)."737-700 Technical Demonstration Flights in Bhutan"(PDF).Aero Magazine(3): 1, 2.Retrieved12 February2011.
  3. ^Toledo, Joanne (26 September 2023)."Shockingly Few Pilots Are Cleared to Land at Paro International Airport".Aviation Property Network.Retrieved23 June2024.
  4. ^"Paro Bhutan".Air Transport Intelligence.Reed Business Information. 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 7 August 2011.Retrieved12 February2011.
  5. ^Lee, Natalie Joy (2 August 2019)."7 Facts You Never Knew About Flying Into Bhutan".Druk Asia.Retrieved3 January2022.
  6. ^https://kuenselonline.com/weather-affects-flights-to-yonphula-airport/
  7. ^https://thebhutanese.bt/34773-2/
  8. ^"History".Archived fromthe originalon 23 November 2016.
  9. ^"The A319 excels in operations from high-altitude airports"(Press release). Airbus. 8 February 2005. Archived fromthe originalon 13 December 2014.Retrieved15 June2014.
  10. ^abcChrist, Rolf F. (June 1983)."Bhutan puts its flag on the world's air map".ICAO Journal.38(6): 11–13. Archived fromthe originalon 4 January 2017.Retrieved15 June2014.
  11. ^Chattopadhyay, Suhrid Sankar (9 May 2008)."Aiming high".Frontline.25(9): 122.ISSN0970-1710.Archived fromthe originalon 10 January 2016.Retrieved15 June2014.
  12. ^"Department of Civil Aviation".Ministry of Information and Communication (Bhutan).Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2011.Retrieved25 April2010.
  13. ^"On the Wings of a Dragon: 25 Years of Progress"(PDF).Tashi Delek.XIII(3): 76. July–September 2008.Retrieved25 April2010.[dead link‍]
  14. ^Brunet, Sandra; Bauer, Johannes; De Lacy, Terry; Tshering, Karma (2001). "Tourism Development in Bhutan: Tensions between Tradition and Modernity".Journal of Sustainable Tourism.9(3): 243.CiteSeerX10.1.1.120.6843.doi:10.1080/09669580108667401.S2CID6123541.
  15. ^Zimba, Dasho Yeshey (1996)."Bhutan Towards Modernization".In Ramakant and Misra, Ramesh Chandra (ed.).Bhutan: Society and Polity(2nd ed.). Indus Publishing. p. 144.ISBN978-81-7387-044-6.Retrieved30 July2008.
  16. ^"Drukair's first Airbus lands in Paro".Paro:Kuensel.20 October 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 10 June 2011.Retrieved26 April2010.
  17. ^Buddha Air in serviceArchived15 April 2012 at theWayback MachineBhutan Broadcasting Service, 24 August 2010.
  18. ^Buddha Air [@AirBuddha] (8 January 2023)."While Buddha Air is popularly known for connecting domestic flights around Nepal, we have also provided international flight services. Our first international flight was on August 2010 with a chartered flight to Paro, Bhutan. #BuddhaAir #TrustedFlying #Flywithus"(Tweet).Archivedfrom the original on 10 January 2023.Retrieved10 January2023– viaTwitter.
  19. ^"Tashi Group - TASHI AIR LAUNCHED ON 4TH DEC. 2011".tashigroup.bt.Archived fromthe originalon 5 November 2012.Retrieved12 December2014.
  20. ^"Running short of space and human resource".KuenselOnline.Archived fromthe originalon 13 December 2014.Retrieved12 December2014.
  21. ^Lhamo, Phurpa (25 July 2018)."Paro international airport gets new infrastructure".Kuensel.Retrieved3 January2022.
  22. ^"Paro Airport".dca.gov.bt.Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2011.Retrieved12 December2014.
  23. ^"A Royal Vision Transforms Paro Airport".Kuensel.13 October 2021.Retrieved3 January2021.
  24. ^https://aseanfoodtravel.com/2024/10/24/bhutan-airlines-introduces-fixed-departure-flights-between-malaysia-and-bhutan/
  25. ^"Bhutan Airlines Adds Seasonal Service to Bangalore from September 2024".Aeroroutes.Retrieved13 May2024.
  26. ^"Bhutan Airlines Adds Seasonal Service to Bangalore from September 2024".Bhutan Airlines.Retrieved13 May2024.
  27. ^"Bhutan Airlines Winter Flight Schedule".24 May 2023.
  28. ^"Bhutan Airlines to launch direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Bhutan".tuoitrenews.Retrieved31 August2024.
  29. ^"Bhutan Airlines Adds Seasonal Service to Mumbai from September 2024".Bhutan Airlines.Retrieved13 May2024.
  30. ^"Bhutan Airlines Adds Seasonal Service to Mumbai from September 2024".Aeroroutes.Retrieved13 May2024.
  31. ^"Drukair Moves Paro – Dubai Service Launch to late-Oct 2024".Aeroroutes.Retrieved28 August2024.
  32. ^ab"DRUKAIR INCREASES SINGAPORE SERVICE FROM AUGUST 2022".Aeroroutes.20 July 2022.Retrieved20 July2022.
  33. ^"Drukair to resume Paro-Gaya service from Dec-2022".CAPA.26 October 2022.
  34. ^"DRUKAIR DEC 2023/JAN 2024 HONG KONG CHARTERS".25 December 2023.Retrieved25 December2023.
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