Editing Transport in Bhutan (section)

==Air==
{{See also|List of airports in Bhutan}}
[[File:Bhutan from above.jpg|alt=the Himalayas in Bhutan, seen from a plane|thumb|The Himalayas, seen on a flight from Delhi to Paro Airport on Drukair<ref name=lifetime/>]]
Bhutan has four airports,<ref name=FB2011/> [[Paro Airport|Paro]], [[Bathpalathang Airport|Bathpalathang]], [[Yongphulla Airport|Yongphulla]], and [[Gelephu Airport]]. Paro, the country's only [[international airport]], is in a steep-sided valley with its approaches restricted to [[visual flight rules]]. During the monsoon season, flights are often delayed by cloud cover. [[Drukair]] is the national carrier, connecting Paro with other countries.

The airport is one of the highest and most-challenging airports at which to land. Minimal equipment is available to pilots, and special training is required to land in the narrow valley on the short runway. Winds and bad weather may delay or cancel a flight, and the best travel times are April to May and October to November.<ref name=lifetime>{{Cite news|url=http://www.onceinalifetimejourney.com/once-in-a-lifetime-journeys/asia/guide-to-bhutan-everything-you-need-to-know-to-plan-a-trip/|title=Guide to Bhutan: Everything you need to know to plan your trip|date=2016-12-07|work=Once In A Lifetime Journey|access-date=2017-04-10|language=en-US}}</ref>

Bathpalathang and Yongphulla are Bhutan's [[domestic airport]]s.<ref>{{cite news  | author=Gyalsten K Dorji  | title=On Drukair 's historic flight  | url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=23385  | work=Kuensel  | date=19 December 2011  | access-date=18 January 2012  | url-status=dead  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211175151/http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=23385  | archive-date=11 February 2012  }}</ref> The [[Royal Bhutanese Government]]'s 10th [[Five-Year Plans of Bhutan|Five-Year Plan]] (2008–13) included the construction of a domestic airport at [[Gelephu]] in [[Sarpang District]].<ref>{{cite news | author=Tshering Palden | title=Domestic air service to take wing soon | url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13325 | work=Kuensel | date=1 September 2009| access-date=12 February 2011}}</ref> An international airport was planned for the Gelephu site, but the project's scope was downgraded to a domestic airport in October 2008.<ref>{{cite news | author=Tenzing Lamsang| title=Gelephu Int'l Airport – Now A Domestic One | url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11282 | work=Kuensel | date=9 October 2008| access-date=12 February 2011}}</ref> In January 2010, the [[Bhutanese Department of Civil Aviation]] indicated that the domestic airport at Gelephu may be expanded into an all-weather airport capable of international traffic in the future. Construction was due to begin in late 2010, with the airport commencing operation in June 2011.<ref>{{cite news | author=Sonam Pelden | title=Groundwork begins for taking to the air | url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=14428 | work=Kuensel | date=8 January 2010 | access-date=12 February 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305053837/http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=14428 | archive-date=5 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Tashi Dema | title=Land hurdle crossed | url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=15876 | work=Kuensel | date=25 June 2010| access-date=12 February 2011}}</ref>