Drukair (KB, Paro) has inducted Bhutan's first-ever executive jet, a Pilatus PC-24. The carrier announced that the aircraft will allow it to serve the premium travel demand to Gelephu, which it comes once the Gelephu Mindfulness City project is complete, as well as medical evacuation operations.
The brand-new PC-24 was registered as A5-JUW (msn 580) on November 28. Yet to enter service, the jet, configured for up to eight passengers, departed Pilatus Aircraft's production facilities at Buochs on November 21, arriving at Paro six days later following stops at Irakleion, Luxor, Muscat, and Ahmedabad.
Drukair's newly inducted PC-24 currently carries the livery of Karnavati Aviation (KBJ, Ahmedabad), the aviation arm of the Indian industrial conglomerate Adani Group. The aircraft had originally been set for registration as VT-APP and would have become the company's sixth PC-24.
Beyond the newly acquired executive jet, Drukair operates three A319-100s, an A320-200N, and an ATR42-600, all deployed on scheduled passenger services. The carrier further provides helicopter operations with three H130 Airbus Helicopters, following a 2022 merger with Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services.
The PC-24's induction follows plans announced earlier this year to convert one of the airline's A319s, A5-JSW (msn 6496), a 10.8-year-old airframe, into a fully VIP-configured aircraft. The A319 will also be based at Gelephu.
In late 2024, the state-owned airline placed an order with Airbus for three A320-200Ns and two A321-200NY(XLR)s, with deliveries scheduled between 2030 and 2031. The XLRs are also slated for deployment out of Gelephu.
Karnavati Aviation's non-scheduled operator's permit (NSOP) currently comprises five PC-24s, a Global 6500, three Legacy 650s, and a Hawker 850XP, which has been active twice since November 2024. The company further operates a San Marino-registered B737-8(BBJ) inducted in August and awaiting reregistration in India, and phased out a Challenger 605 earlier this year.
