Bhutan Drukair will fly up to 20,000 passengers

Drukair will fly up to 20,000 passengers this month alone - a record for the airline.

The record traffic is a result not only of the peak tourist season beginning this month, but also the upcoming Royal Wedding.

As a result, Drukair has already inserted 28 additional flights, or made available 4,500 more seats, this October. Half these flights are on the Paro-Bangkok, Thailand sector. The airline has placed a second crew in Bangkok to address the record upsurge in passenger traffic.

“We’ve created more than 25 percent additional capacity for October and it’s the highest we’ve ever created,” the airline’s commercial manager, Tshering Penjor, said. He added that the airline has even had to hire temporary staff to cope with the record traffic being experienced.

On October 2, the airline flew 15 flights in and out of Paro airport, setting another record for most flights operated at the airport since its construction in the early eighties.

While some seats on incoming flights to Paro are still available, Tshering Penjor said that preferred dates might not be available. In case of medical emergencies requiring patients to be flown out, he said that Drukair would continue to prioritise such cases. “Drukair has and will continue to extend priority and do all possible, as and when an emergency arises.”

While the airline has created the additional capacity, bad weather and technical problems if encountered, could disrupt the October schedule. “We’ve kept some cushion to ensure during such unforeseen circumstances while flights may be disrupted and delayed, at no point of time, the air services will be crippled,” Tshering Penjor said. He added, “However no one can guarantee against any technical problems or weather related delays and, if we face them, obviously it’ll impact the schedules.”

A technical problem with one of its airbus jets already disrupted the schedule, when it was grounded for maintenance on Tuesday and most of Wednesday.

He also pointed out that, despite the increased frequency of flight operations, safety of passengers and aircraft maintenance would not be compromised, and would remain a priority of the airline.

Source: Kuenselonline

Royal wedding (Bhutan) archery tournament

In the royal wedding archery tournament at Gup Kanjur’s archery range at Babesa in Thimphu, Thongley Drayang secured five points defeating its opponent teams, Tashi Tagye and Wamling Yarna, who shared three points each.

In the afternoon’s match, Karma Druk beat Chang Shooters and Charo Nga by scoring six points. The other two teams manage only three points each.

The organiser, former gup Kanjur claimed the tournament played on traditional bow and arrow and aping the Yangphel style, was the first of its kind in Thimphu.

The tournament saw 22 teams participating in it.

He said he was interested in playing archery on Pakshi before he switched on to compound bow a few years ago.

“I was sent to other countries to represent my own in playing archery on Pakshi and now I should do something to preserve and promote it,” he said, adding although a number of archery tournaments were organised in the country, it was less on traditional equipment.

“This is one of the reasons for conducting this tournament,” Kanjur said.

He also said the tournament was in celebration of the royal wedding, its finals being scheduled on the wedding day. Prizes have yet to be decided as the organiser are still looking for sponsors.

“I’m starting this tournament with the hope it’ll become an annual event,” he said.

In today’s tournament, Gunners will play Wamling Yarna and Ram Kharp in the morning and Radhi will contest Druk Chapcha Construction and Chang shooters in the afternoon. The tournament started on September 18 and the league round will wind up on September 30.

Source: Kuenselonline

Bhutan Hit Earthquake

Bhutan Hit by earthquake on 18th September 2011

Magnitude	6.1
Date-Time	Monday, September 21, 2009 at 08:53:06 UTC Monday, September 21, 2009 at 02:53:06 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	27.346°N, 91.412°E
Depth	14 km (8.7 miles) set by location program
Region	BHUTAN
Distances	130 km (80 miles) NNW of Gauhati, Assam, India 180 km (110 miles) E of THIMPHU, Bhutan 610 km (380 miles) NNE of Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India 1410 km (870 miles) E of NEW DELHI, Delhi, India
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 6.2 km (3.9 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters	NST=137, Nph=137, Dmin=>999 km, Rmss=1.04 sec, Gp= 22°, M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=A
Source	USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	us2009lvap

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009lvap.php

TREK ITINERARY FOR SAMTENGANG

PRIVATE TREK ITINERARY FOR
SAMTENGANG TREK 11 DAYS

Day 01 Arrive at Paro Airport
During the journey to Paro, one will experience breath taking view of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Chomolhari and Mount Jichu Drake in Bhutan. On arrival at Paro Airport, you will be received by representatives of Bhutan Historic Tour who will escort you to the hotel.

Day 02 Paro- Paro
Visit the National Museum (Ta-Dzong). This was actually the Watch Tower of Paro Rinpung Dzong. It was converted to the National Museum in 1968. Visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong. This massive fortress is located on a hill top above the Pachu (Paro River) of Paro Valley. You have to walk about 15 minutes by crossing an ancient wooden bridge built in typical Bhutanese architect. The Dzong houses the District Administration Office and the District Monk Body. It was built in 1645 A.D. Lunch at Hotel. Visit the Drukgyal Dzong, located 16 Km. away from the Paro town. Although in ruins, this Dzong is of great historical importance. It was here that the Bhutanese finally defeated the invading Tibetans and drove them back. From here, the peak of Jhomolhari "Mountain of the Goddess" can be seen on a clear day (Alt. 7,314m/24,029ft.). Visit Kyichu Lhakhang (Lhakhang means Monastery). Kyichu Lhakhang was built in 659 A.D. by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet. It is considered one of the holiest places in Bhutan as it marks the advent of Buddhism in the country.

Day 03 Paro - Thimphu
Drive along the winding road along the Paro Chu (Chu means water or river) down stream to the confluence with the Wang Chu then turn upstream and travel along the Wang Chu to Thimphu, the Capital. Lunch will be served at the Hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Memorial Chorten, dedicated to the Late Third King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 04 Thimphu – Khuruthang

Drive to Khuruthang with pack lunch provided from the hotel. Stop at Dochula pass for a grand view of the Himalayan mountain ranges (if the weather is clear). Lunch at the camp site. After lunch, drive down to Punakha and visit the Dzong.

Day 05 Khuruthang - Limukha
Drive till Punakha. The trek begins with the gradual climb through Chir Pine forests. On the way, visit a village called, Dompala.

Day 06 Limukha - Chungsakha
The trail today takes you through rhododendron and oak forested area. Enroute pass a famous Drukpa Kuenlay Lhakhang. Overnight in camp. Distance 14 Km. about 5/6 hours walk.

Day 07 Chungsakha - Samtengang
The trail now takes you through the village of Sha Wangdi District. Camp at Samtengang at lake side. Distance 13 Km about 5 hours.

Day 08 Samtengang - Wangdue
The trail now drops down till the motor road. Drive till Wangdue Phodrang and lunch at the Guest House. Overnight: Hotel

Day 09 Wangdue - Thimphu
Morning drive to Thimphu.
Check in the Hotel and Lunch will be served.
After Lunch visit the Handicraft Emporium, National Mini Zoo, and Thimphu View Point.
Overnight Hotel in Thimphu

Day10 Thimphu - Paro
Drive to Paro. Check in the hotel and rest of the afternoon free.
Overnight hotel in Paro

Day 11 Drive to Airport and board flight

Wishing you safe journey and Thank you for visiting Bhutan with us.

Druk Air: Bhutan and Singapore will establish an air services agreement

Bhutan and Singapore will establish an air services agreement (ASA) next week, according to the department of civil aviation (DCA).

The agreement will allow national airline, Drukair and upcoming private airline, Tashi Air, the rights to fly to Singapore. A civil aviation team from Singapore will arrive in the country today to work out technical details of the ASA, prior to a final agreement on Wednesday.

Drukair plans to operate to Singapore twice a week from March next year, according to the airline’s commercial manager, Tshering Penjor. But he said that this would also depend on when Drukair is able to acquire a third airbus jet. Drukair will also have the rights to operate to Singapore through Kolkata, India and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

A representative for Tashi Air said that its international destinations will only be worked out once the airline’s domestic obligations are fulfilled. The private airline’s aircraft is expected to arrive in the first week of October.

DCA director general, Phala Dorji, pointed out that an added benefit to an ASA with Singapore would be obtaining training opportunities for Bhutanese aviation officials.

The aviation sector is a key component of the Singaporean economy, and its civil aviation authority is also major provider of training for international aviation management personnel. Bhutanese airlines will also be able to use Singapore for its high level of aircraft maintenance and repair services. “This will go a long way in terms of benefits,” said Phala Dorji. The director general also pointed out that Singapore had initiated the ASA.

Bhutan now has ASAs with seven countries: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and now, Singapore. Phala Dorji said that DCA is under instructions to establish as many ASAs as possible. He said that DCA is currently focused on establishing ASAs with all SAARC countries. Bhutan does not have ASAs with Pakistan and Afghanistan. He added that Qatar had recently expressed interest in establishing an ASA with Bhutan.

While ASAs can be established, it is up to airlines whether a route will be formed and operated. Drukair does not operate to the Maldives and has discontinued its Myanmar stopovers. Drukair is currently focused on expanding its services to and within India, where domestic passenger traffic is growing at a rapid pace. Passenger traffic between Paro and India increased 26 percent in 2010. The international air transport association (IATA) ranked India’s domestic passenger traffic growth second (14 percent) globally for the month of June. Drukair is considering establishing routes to the cities of Bangalore and Mumbai.

The national airline is also looking at establishing a Hong Kong, China route.

Source: Kuenselonline