Sherab Lhamo
The National Council (NC) ratified the Air Services Agreement (ASA) between Bhutan and Kuwait on November 20.
The agreement, which was presented by the Economic Affairs Committee (EAC), was unanimously approved by all 22 members of the Council. It is set to take effect on December 6, 2024.
During the presentation, Deputy Chairperson of the EAC, Sonam Tenzin, highlighted that the ASA is expected to enhance air connectivity between Bhutan and Kuwait, open new tourism opportunities, create jobs, and boost revenue through increased aviation activity. “It will also provide passengers with more travel options and competitive airfares.”
Council member from Dagana Birendra Chimoria welcomed the agreement, stating that it aligns with the vision of His Majesty’s plan for Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), which aims to establish Gelephu as a global transit hub.
“This agreement could bring more Airbus flights to Bhutan, especially with the start of GMC as a global transit point,” he said.
Bhutan signed the ASA with Kuwait on January 9, 2024. It was subsequently presented for ratification to the National Assembly during the first session of the fourth Parliament in June 2024. After review, it was sent to the National Council for further approval.
The agreement follows the framework of the Chicago Convention and complies with the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), according to the Chairperson of the EAC, Tshewang Rinchen.
While the agreement received broad support, some members expressed concerns about its potential challenges.
NC member from Trashigang Sonam Tobgyel raised doubts about the tangible benefits of the ASA, pointing out that Bhutan has already signed air service agreements with eight other countries, which have not yet led to significant improvements in connectivity, tourism, or economic growth.
He questioned whether the new agreement with Kuwait would differ from the previous ASAs, which he described as “paper agreements”.
He also pointed out that Bhutan’s long-standing ASA with Kuwait, signed in 1983, had not yielded any visible benefits for the country.
Other council members also raised concerns about potential challenges such as increased competition for Bhutanese airlines, limited airport capacity at Paro International Airport and Gelephu International Airport, which is under-construction, and potential environmental impacts from increased air traffic.
