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Works under GoI assistance at Paro International Airport
Projects under GoI assistance include the following:
i) Permanent River Protection Works
Consultancy works for the preparation of design, drawings and cost estimates including evaluation of bids were completed by early March 2011. However, work award was stopped after the Mid-Term Review of Paro Dzongkhag on 02 February 2011 following the Government decision to combine river protection works with the construction of a road. The work, along with committed budget, has now been formally handed-over to the Ministry of Works & Human Settlement to be taken-up as one package. Construction works are planned to commence by around October 2011. There will be a need for additional resources to cover the road component.
ii) Enhancement of emergency response capability/expansion for Paro Airport
o Fire station and security accommodation: Consultancy work for design, drawing and cost estimation is completed and currently the bids are being evaluated for awarding the work soon thereafter.
o Runway turn pads: Work order issued in April 2011.
o Expansion of terminal building: Draft consultancy report for design, drawing and estimates received in April 2011. Work will be tendered out immediately after the final report is received.
iii) Improve communication and navigation aid technology
o Work awarded in April 2011 for the modernization of the Voice communication system;
o Improvement of power supply system through the procurement of Uninterrupted Power Supply System and generators has been completed.
International air services
i) Number of air travellers has seen a modest increase of 13% from 120,769 in 2009 to 136,414 in 2010, as shown in the table below:
Table: Drukair Passenger Flow – 2010 and 2009, segregated by sectors
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Sector
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JANUARY-DECEMBER
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Year
2010
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Year
2009
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Paro
to
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Delhi
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11479
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10139
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Bangkok
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24361
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22159
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Kathmandu
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10509
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8597
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Kolkata
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11450
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8070
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Gay
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751
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1026
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Dhaka
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2952
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1530
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Bagdogra
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2033
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1302
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Guwahati
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118
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Sub-total
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63653
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52823
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to
Paro
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Delhi
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12032
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10037
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Bangkok
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24560
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22410
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Kathmandu
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10675
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8825
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Kolkata
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10374
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7614
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Gaya
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850
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897
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Dhaka
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2964
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1407
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Bagdogra
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1965
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1289
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Guwahati
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108
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Sub-total
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63528
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52479
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Kathmandu/Delhi
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0
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2037
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Delhi/Kathmandu
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0
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1102
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Kolkata/Bangkok
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0
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1664
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Bangkok/Kolkata
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11
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1586
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Gaya/Bangkok
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707
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1447
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Bangkok/Gaya
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625
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1415
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Dhaka/Bangkok
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2254
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2720
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Bangkok/Dhaka
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1835
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2377
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Bagdogra/Bangkok
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1819
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649
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Bangkok/Bagdogra
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1716
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470
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Guwahati/Bangkok
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180
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Bangkok/Guwahati
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86
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Sub-total
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9,233
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15,467
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Grand
Total
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136,414
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120,769
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ii) Paro - Bangkok sector is the most frequently travelled sector for Bhutanese for many reasons – holiday, business, medical treatment and the prefererd transit hub for travel beyond Bangkok. It also remains the most frequently used sector for travel to and from Bhutan by tourists followed by Delhi, Kathmandu and Kolkata.
iii) Introduction of scheduled air services to Guwahati in 2010 has particularly benefitted people in the eastern region. Low passenger volume is however a concern for the airline.
iv) In an effort to continue expansion of air route network to improve aircraft utilization and financial performance, as well as help in achieving the target of 100,000 tourists by 2012/13, the following activities have either been completed or in the pipeline:
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Air Services Agreement (ASA) signed with the Maldives on 8 May, 2011;
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Amended ASA signed with Bangladesh on 17 May 2011, allowing Drukair to use all airports in Bangladesh and also operate beyond Dhaka to Singapore, Sharjah (UAE), Kathmandu, Pakistan (place to be identified), and all Indian cities except
Kolkata;
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Discussion for signing ASA with Singapore, the State of Qatar, Hong Kong and the amended ASA with Nepal in the pipeline;
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Signing of ASA with remaining SAARC countries initiated as a larger plan to air-link all SAARC capitals
The following matrix summarizes the trend, challenges and expectations:
Trend
Challenges
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Problem with retaining staff in critical posts.
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Non-availability of aviation professionals and high cost of training.
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High cost of Infrastructure & Facilities.
Looking ahead
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Strengthen policy & legal instruments to create level playing field
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find options to retain staff in critical posts
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launching domestic air service by autumn of 2011
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privatization of airport services and encourage competition in the aviation sector.
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