Bhutan national airline Druk Air has selected CFM56-5B engines to power its two new Airbus A319 aircraft that are scheduled for delivery late this year, the engine maker announced at Asian Aerospace yesterday.

Druk Air ordered the A319s as part of a fleet expansion and renewal programme. They will replace the airline's current BAC 146 aircraft, providing extra capacity and enabling it to expand its network in the region. It intends to offer routes to destinations such as Singapore and Dubai in the near future.

Druk Air's Paro airport is one of the most interesting in the world. The 2,000m (6,500ft) strip is set in a narrow valley, 7,300ft above sea level and surrounded by Himalayan peaks.

The Bhutan airline now joins other CFM customers on the subcontinent such as Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Sri Lankan Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Source: Flight Daily News