23/03/2024
New Runway of Gelephu Airport
The new runway for the Gelephu Airport will run parallel to the existing one and will extend towards Sarpang (and not towards Mao Khola). The runway will pass over Paitha Khola river and Aiepoli river. Land needed for this has been acquired and finalised, for now.
The 3,000 metres runway and the new Terminal Building and associated infrastructure is estimated to cost around Nu. 20 billion - and will be able to accommodate the Airbus a320 family and Airbus a350.
The existing airport with its small terminal building and the 1500m runway, while serving the domestic flights, will also cater to regional flights such as to Kolkata, Guwahati and Bagdogra. The airport has recently received the international certification from ICAO (UN agency that looks after aviation). International flights to these destinations will start soon using the existing Druk Air ATR-42. Some clearances for the air route from the respective governments awaited.
(Source: The Bhutanese and Department of Air Transport, Paro International Airport)
What does this mean for GMC?
In my view, potential investors can fly in directly from India, Nepal and Bangladesh in the immediate future. Bhutanese people living in Gelephu and nearby Dzongkhags can fly out without having to drive to Paro to catch the flight. Connectivity is the key to any economic growth and nothing is faster, safer and reliable than air connections. And since the airport has been certified, private business jets can also fly there, which will facilitate the travels of large international investors.
In 2 years time, we should have the new airport up and running. My dream is to see our own airlines acquire an Airbus a321 and fly direct to Australia, Dubai and Kuwait. Establishing such physical connections may perhaps reverse the migration, or at least there might be Bhutanese living abroad investing to keep the emotional connection with the country.
Druk Air that flies on Fridays and Sundays is reportedly seeing an average of 20 passengers on every flight (the plane capacity is 30). As I mentioned in my earlier post, if we make service available, people will find ways to use it.
Dreaming on, for, there is no cost to dream. It actually feels nice. Better than engulfing yourself with negativity and pessimism.
Wangchuk
