While Israel is cracking down on foreign pilots following the flydubai hijacking, a little-known airline from one of the world’s most remote corners has just announced a landmark new route to Tel Aviv.
Drukair, Bhutan’s national carrier, will operate the first-ever direct flights between Paro and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport beginning in February 2027. The flight takes about seven hours.
The route is remarkable for more than its novelty. Paro International Airport sits in a narrow valley at 2,200 meters (7332ft), ringed by snow-capped mountains, and only Bhutanese airlines are able to fly there. Takeoffs and landings are made by sight, and fewer than 50 pilots, split between the country’s two airlines, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines, are qualified to do them.
The former hermit kingdom has been slow to open up to the world and admitted its first tourists only in 1974. Until now, Israelis have typically reached Bhutan via India or Dubai, two of a handful of gateways, and Dubai is no longer a reliable option. Bangkok, Kathmandu and Delhi offer daily flights to Paro, while Singapore and Dubai have three and two weekly connections, respectively.
The peaceful Himalayan country is a popular destination for Israeli travelers, who come for its colorful Buddhist festivals, high-altitude treks, pristine forests and rare wildlife, from red pandas to black-necked cranes. Visitors pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $100 per person, per day, a rate in effect until August 31, 2027, which helps fund Bhutan’s national healthcare and education. Travelers must also hire a guide and driver.
The new seasonal service, operated on Airbus A320 aircraft, can be booked through Caminos Travel. Packages start at $5,395 per person, based on double occupancy, and include five-star accommodations, visa costs and the SDF.
The Himalayan kingdom, often called the world’s last Buddhist kingdom, has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 2020. That’s no small thing: Bhutan has formal ties with only 59 countries, and none with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, including the U.S., Russia, and China. Now it is taking its new relationship with Israel to a new level.
When I visited Bhutan last fall on assignment with BBC Travel, I had the honor of meeting King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. He thanked me for my “priceless contributions” to the country, and I thanked him, on behalf of the Jewish community, for sponsoring the country’s first Rosh Hashanah gathering organized by a friend the previous year. He told me he has many Jewish friends and feels very close to the Jewish people.
Well, Bhutan just got a lot closer.
Erin Levi is a Bhutan travel expert who has written about the country for BBC Travel, TIME, Wine Enthusiast, DestinAsian, The New York Times, Smart Luxury, Travelzoo and more. Learn more at www.erinlevi.com.
By Erin Levi
The Bukharian Times English Editor