New Delhi, July 7: In a development that will further boost the Northeast?s connectivity with the neighbouring countries, a decision has been taken to begin direct flights between Bhutan and Guwahati.

The decision to add Guwahati to the list of flight destinations originating from Bhutan was taken today at a meeting in Thimpu between officials of the two countries.

Chennai and Mumbai are the other metropolises that will be connected to the Himalayan kingdom in addition to Delhi, Calcutta and Gaya where the Bhutanese airline Druk already has landing rights.

Bhutan is the second country that has agreed to have direct air links with Guwahati. The flight to Bangkok was restarted last year after it was stalled due to low traffic.

Giving details, an official spokesperson said the cap of 1,020 seats per week has been removed and that the frequencies of the designated airlines, operating between the two countries, would also be increased from the existing 12.

The Indian delegation was led by joint secretary in civil aviation Raghu Menon along with representatives from the ministry of external affairs, director general of civil aviation and Indian Airlines.

It was also decided that a team of Indian experts would visit Bhutan later this year to conduct a feasibility study and draw up a masterplan for setting up a new international airport at Gelephu in southern Bhutan that would be closer to Assam.

As of now, there is only one airport in Paro near the Bhutanese capital.