Bhutan's first private airline, operated by Tashi Air Pvt. Ltd, founded in 2011 and based at Paro International Airport (PBH), carrying international cargo in Airbus A319 passenger bellies, with per-kilogram cargo rates published for each sector. Chinese exports enter Bhutan after connecting through hubs such as Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu; specific space and schedules are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
| Country | Bhutan (Kingdom of Bhutan) |
| Head office and hubs | Thimphu · Paro International Airport (PBH) |
| IATA two-letter code | B3 |
| ICAO three-letter code | BTN |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Fleet composition | Airbus A319 ×2 |
Bhutan Airlines is Bhutan's first private airline, operated by Tashi Air Pvt. Ltd, part of Bhutan's Tashi Group. Founded in December 2011, it is based at Paro International Airport (IATA code PBH, ICAO code VQPR). Its IATA two-letter code is B3 and its ICAO three-letter code is BTN; the fleet consists of two Airbus A319 aircraft flying international routes from Bhutan to Thailand, India and Nepal.
On route structure, the airline's international network links Paro with Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Gaya, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Bangkok is served daily and Delhi several times a week, with connections via Kathmandu. Kolkata and Gaya are Indian stops and direct destinations, while Bengaluru and Mumbai extend the South Asian network. Chinese cargo can connect at whichever hub best fits the mainline schedule, and we provide routing comparisons and transit estimates at the planning stage.
On cargo, the Bhutan Airlines website has a Baggage and Cargo section; on international flights cargo is carried in the passenger belly and charged by the kilogram, and per-kilogram cargo rates are published for sectors such as Paro–Bangkok, Kolkata, Delhi and Kathmandu. Paro is Bhutan's only international air gateway, all inbound and outbound cargo is handled at the Paro cargo terminal, and acceptance is constrained by the aircraft type and loading conditions at a high-altitude airport.
For Chinese shippers, Bhutan Airlines offers belly cargo into Paro via hubs such as Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu, forming a complete chain to Bhutan when combined with mainline carriers. The airline has no publicly listed cargo office of its own in China and its China business runs through agents; Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) can handle mainline booking, hub connections and confirmation of Paro capacity.
China and Bhutan maintain regular economic contact through third-country transit, and Chinese goods reach the Bhutanese market via international air and regional re-export channels. Chinese exports to Bhutan are mainly machinery and electrical products, building materials, consumer goods, medical devices and textiles, arriving at Paro after connecting through hubs such as Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu. Bangkok has the densest schedule and is the usual choice for cargo from eastern and southern China.
Tashi Air belongs to the Tashi Group, whose businesses span construction, tourism and aviation. The aviation arm serves both the Bhutanese domestic market and international routes, with Bangkok–Paro operating daily and Delhi–Paro several times a week. The A319 suits Paro's high-altitude approach conditions, hold loading varies with the season and flight plan, and peak-season space must be confirmed early. We combine mainline, connection and final delivery options by destination market and cargo type, giving Chinese shippers an end-to-end arrangement to Bhutan.
Bhutan Airlines has no publicly listed scheduled service or cargo office of its own in China, and its China business is mainly connecting traffic: Chinese cargo transits hubs such as Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu and is then carried to Paro on the airline's flights. We handle the complete connection between Chinese exports and the Bhutan direction.
Bhutan Airlines official website: bhutanairlines.bt (plain text domain). The airline's published partner network includes a China general sales agent (GSA China): CHENGDU 3E INTL TRAVEL SERVICE. There is no publicly listed cargo office of its own in China, and cargo requirements are handled through agents.
Chinese exporters with cargo for Bhutan can have the requirement assessed and arranged through us. We deal with the carrier's commercial team and the cargo department at Paro on capacity and handling arrangements. Submit the requirement at goodhope86.com and we complete the booking, transit tracking and customs coordination as one process.
The airline's international network is anchored on Paro and links Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Gaya, Bengaluru and Mumbai; the South Asian network gives Chinese cargo options for entering Paro via regional hubs.
The airline publishes per-kilogram cargo rates by sector. Rates move with the season and the market; the rate confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking applies.
Bhutan Airlines has two aircraft, both Airbus A319 passenger types. International cargo is carried in the passenger belly and there are no dedicated freighters. The A319 is a narrowbody suited to Paro's high-altitude approach and is the main type on international routes into and out of Bhutan.
| Aircraft type | Number | Freight positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319 | 2 aircraft | Type used on international routes to Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu and other points; cargo is loaded in the passenger belly |
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Aircraft type | Airbus A319-115, narrowbody, suited to high-altitude airport operations |
| Number | 2 aircraft (registrations A5-DOR, A5-RIM) |
| Freight mode | Carried in passenger bellies; no dedicated freighters |
| Charging basis | Charged by the kilogram, with published cargo rates for each sector |
| Operating season | Schedules are published by season and apply to the end of the current season |
The A319 belly is divided into forward and aft holds, and payload and volume vary with load factor and baggage; actual available space depends on the aircraft type on the day and the space left in the hold. Paro applies strict size and weight standards to cargo acceptance, piece dimensions must be checked before loading, and cargo outside the limits must be confirmed with the cargo department in advance.
Bhutan Airlines has no publicly listed scheduled cargo route in China. Chinese exports connect to the airline mainly by combining mainline carriage from China to hubs such as Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu with belly carriage to Paro: the mainline sector leaves major Chinese gateways, connects through an operating international carrier to the hub, and the Paro leg is flown by Bhutan Airlines.
| Connection method | Typical use | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Mainline from China to Bangkok | Consolidated cargo exported from China to Bhutan | Mainline capacity from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong to Bangkok BKK is dense, and Bhutan Airlines operates Bangkok–Paro daily. |
| Via the Delhi and Kathmandu hubs | Cargo originating in South Asia | Delhi DEL is served several times a week, with connections to Paro via Kathmandu KTM; this suits cargo from southwest and north China. |
| Via Kolkata | Bangkok–Paro with a stop | The Bangkok–Paro flight stops at Kolkata CCU, so cargo from southern China can combine regional sectors into Paro. |
| Bulk and special cargo assessment | Bulk or special cargo | We assess the transport plan against the cargo parameters. The high-altitude approach into Paro sets firm limits on aircraft type and cargo dimensions, which have to be checked in advance. |
There are currently no direct flights from China to Bhutan. All cargo transits a third-country hub. The carrier, schedule and rate are confirmed on the day of booking.
Main gateway in eastern China, with dense mainline capacity toward Bangkok, suited to consolidated shipments of general cargo, heavy cargo and temperature-controlled goods.
A core gateway for South China manufacturing cargo: machinery, electronics and textiles ship easily, and Shenzhen cargo can move by road to Hong Kong warehouses for handover.
Complete international cargo network with ample capacity toward Bangkok, suited to consolidated bulk heavy cargo.
A North China gateway connecting to Paro via Delhi and Kathmandu, suited to North China cargo shipping from its nearest airport.
Paro International Airport is Bhutan's only international air gateway. Its altitude and difficult terrain mean only specific aircraft types can operate there, and strict size and weight limits apply to acceptance. All inbound and outbound cargo is handled at the Paro airport cargo terminal.
We handle mainline booking for Chinese exports, transit connections and capacity confirmation toward Paro, manage the milestones of each shipment, and check import permits and documentation requirements at the same time.
With Paro as the gateway, Chinese exports can enter Bhutan through Bhutan Airlines hubs such as Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu. The airline's international network covers Thailand, India and Nepal, with Bangkok–Paro operating daily and Delhi–Paro several times a week, so Chinese cargo can connect at the hub with the densest schedule.
Individual day-of-week schedules on Bhutan Airlines routes change with the seasonal plan, and the published timetable applies to the end of the season; no fixed year-round timetable is public. Actual schedules follow the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking. Exporters that need to assess routings into Paro through each hub can ask us for a connection plan based on destination market and cargo type.
There are no direct flights from China toward Paro. The routings below are the practical options from China to Paro PBH, arranged by us according to cargo weight, dimensions and transit time. The actual carrier and schedule are confirmed on the day of booking.
| Path | Origin China | Transit hub | Carrier on the Paro leg | Indicative transit time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Via Bangkok | Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong | Bangkok BKK | Bhutan Airlines B3 | About 4–7 days |
| Via Delhi | Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu | Delhi DEL | Bhutan Airlines B3 | About 4–7 days |
| Via Kathmandu | Chengdu, Kunming, Beijing | Kathmandu KTM | Bhutan Airlines B3 | About 4–7 days |
| Via Kolkata | Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu | Kolkata CCU | Bhutan Airlines B3 | About 5–8 days |
Reference transit time airport to airport is about 4–8 working days, and typically 6–10 days door to door once inland pickup in China, export declaration, clearance and delivery at Paro are counted. These figures are the generally published range used across the forwarding industry. The high-altitude approach into Paro is strongly affected by weather, and peak season, flight connections and customs inspection can all change the actual arrival time. Schedules change with the season; the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking applies.
As Bhutan's first private airline, Bhutan Airlines combined with mainline carriers gives Chinese cargo one more belly option into Paro.
Bangkok–Paro operates daily and is the high-frequency route for cargo from eastern and southern China entering Paro via a Southeast Asian hub.
Destinations such as Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata and Gaya give cargo from southwest and north China a closer transit option into Paro.
The airline publishes per-kilogram cargo rates for each sector, so Chinese shippers can estimate cost by volume; actual rates are subject to confirmation on the day of booking.
The Paro cargo terminal applies strict size and weight standards, so Chinese shippers can check packing and piece dimensions against them in advance and reduce the risk of rejection at the airport.
Belly capacity on the Paro leg is confirmed per shipment. We combine mainline, transit and final-leg transport to suit the destination market and the cargo, so the plan stays flexible and every milestone can be tracked.
| Cargo categories | Notes | China export reference |
|---|---|---|
| General cargo | Machinery and electrical products, building materials, consumer goods, textiles and apparel, and similar standard air cargo | The cargo types commonly exported from China to Bhutan, booked and loaded through standard procedures. |
| High-value cargo | Precision instruments, telecom equipment and medical devices; reinforced packing can be arranged | High-value cargo is declared per shipment, and we manage the loading and handover process. |
| Temperature-controlled cargo | Pharmaceuticals and biological products, shipped in temperature-controlled packaging to cold-chain requirements | For pharmaceutical cargo exported from China, temperature conditions are subject to carrier confirmation. |
| Dangerous goods | Battery-powered products and chemicals are accepted under IATA dangerous goods rules | Compliant declaration documents are required, and acceptance conditions should be confirmed at the booking stage. |
| Express shipments and samples | Small samples and documents can move on express products | Suited to fast shipment of trade samples and business documents. |
Cargo from China to Bhutan is mainly machinery and electrical products, building materials, medical devices and consumer goods. Acceptance standards for each commodity follow the operating carrier's rules. Dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo and out-of-gauge cargo must be declared at the booking stage.
On shipment planning, we manage commodity declaration, loading checks and transport tracking per shipment, confirm acceptance conditions and document requirements for dangerous goods, temperature-controlled and out-of-gauge cargo at the booking stage, and follow standard procedures for routine cargo. Flights to Paro are affected by weather at a high-altitude airport, and schedule changes are common in winter and the rainy season, so customers' shipping plans are set according to the confirmed schedule.
Chinese exports to Bhutan are mainly machinery and electrical products, building materials, medical devices, consumer goods and textiles. All of these can be shipped to Paro in belly space under standard procedures; bulk and special cargo are assessed separately.
The Paro airport cargo terminal handles import, export and transit cargo for Bhutan. On arrival Chinese cargo is handed over and cleared with the terminal's support, and after clearance imports are distributed to Thimphu and destinations across the country.
Chinese cargo enters Paro after connecting through hubs such as Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu. We coordinate air waybill continuity and ground handover between the two carriers and track every node of the journey.
The airline charges by the kilogram, so Chinese shippers can estimate the Paro leg from cargo weight and the published rate structure; actual rates are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Bookings involving Bhutan Airlines capacity to Paro are confirmed shipment by shipment. Once the exporter gives us the destination market and cargo details, we book the mainline sector, arrange the hub connection and confirm Paro capacity to produce a complete shipping plan.
| Step | Content |
|---|---|
| Step one | Send us the commodity, weight, volume, piece dimensions, destination city and transit requirement so we can check whether the shipment exceeds Paro cargo terminal acceptance limits. |
| Step two | We match a China gateway and a transit hub, confirm mainline schedule and rate, and check belly availability on the Paro leg at the same time. |
| Step three | Cargo moves on the mainline flight to the hub, is handed over in transit and loaded on a Bhutan Airlines flight to Paro, with every node tracked. |
| Step four | After arrival at Paro we clear customs, arrange pickup or delivery, and handle exceptions and claims. |
Paro is a high-altitude airport with a special approach, and operations are strongly affected by weather and season. Schedules change with the season; the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking applies.
Customers do not have to deal separately with mainline carriers, transit hub agents, the Paro cargo terminal and the customs broker. We coordinate all of these and follow every issue through to resolution.
Mainline freight, belly charges on the Paro leg, fuel surcharge, ground handling, documentation, customs brokerage and any storage or inspection charges are listed line by line so customers can check where the money goes.
Before booking we check piece dimensions, weight and packing against Paro cargo terminal acceptance standards, ruling out unworkable options so that cargo is not refused at the warehouse.
For delays, damage, discrepancies between documents and goods, and customs holds in transit, we handle the process under the carrier's rules and the conditions of carriage, so clients do not have to deal with unfamiliar procedures on their own.
No scheduled cargo route or cargo office of its own is publicly listed. Chinese cargo transits hubs such as Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu and is then carried to Paro on the airline's flights, with each arrangement confirmed per shipment.
No. The fleet is two Airbus A319 passenger aircraft, international cargo travels in the passenger belly, and there are no dedicated freighters.
Yes. There are no direct flights from China to Bhutan; cargo connects through hubs such as Bangkok, Delhi and Kathmandu to reach Paro PBH, and we coordinate the connections throughout.
The airline publishes per-kilogram cargo rates by sector. Rates move with the season and the market; the rate confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking applies.
About 4–8 working days airport to airport, and typically 6–10 days door to door. Actual transit depends on connections, weather at Paro and clearance at destination; the carrier's confirmation on the day of booking applies.
Bangkok has the densest schedule and the most established connections; Delhi and Kathmandu involve shorter sectors. The choice depends on shipping date, volume and transit requirement, and we can compare several routings.
Standard cargo needs an air waybill, commercial invoice, packing list and export declaration documents. Import declaration for Bhutan follows destination customs requirements, and restricted goods need an import permit or compliance certificate.
Two aircraft, both Airbus A319-115 passenger types (registrations A5-DOR, A5-RIM), with international cargo carried in the passenger belly.
The airline operates Bangkok–Paro daily according to its published schedule; actual operation follows the seasonal timetable, and schedules are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Paro PBH sits in mountainous terrain, and flights are strongly affected by weather and visibility, so services are occasionally adjusted. We allow reasonable connection time when booking and stay in step with the carrier's schedule; when weather delays a flight we notify the shipper proactively and coordinate the onward connection, with actual arrival depending on the day's operation and total transit given as a reference confirmed by the carrier on the day of booking.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited assesses the connection options for cargo from China to Bhutan, covering mainline booking, transit connections and final-leg transport to Paro.
Visit goodhope86.com for air freight optionsDisclaimer: prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) to present publicly available cargo information about Bhutan Airlines; the content is compiled from public sources for reference only and does not form a contract of carriage or a commitment. The Bhutan Airlines, Tashi Air and related names, codes and brand marks belong to their respective owners. We are an independent freight forwarder and have no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with the airline; capacity and rates are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.