Yongphulla Airport guide

Yongphulla Airport (also spelled Yonphula, ICAO VQTY) is a small domestic airport in eastern Bhutan. It sits at 2,562 m above sea level near Kanglung, on the highway between Trashigang and Samdrup Jongkhar, and serves the Trashigang area.

The Indian Border Roads Organisation built the airstrip in the 1960s. It was renovated in the early 2000s and inaugurated in December 2011. The airport closed to all traffic in 2013 because it had no fire service cover and needed structural repairs, and it reopened on 8 October 2017 after the runway was upgraded.

The single asphalt runway, 12/30, is 1,266 m long and suits short-takeoff turboprops. Steep mountains surround the field, so flights run in daylight and visual conditions only, and weather often cancels them. Drukair links Yongphulla with Paro, Bumthang and Gelephu on a limited weekly schedule that changes, so check with the airline before travelling. The terminal is compact, with basic check-in, security and a small waiting lounge for departing passengers.