TBM Staff - Mumbai Sikkim’s only airport, Pakyong Airport, is gearing up to recommence flight services after a six-month hiatus, as confirmed by a senior official familiar with the matter.
According to Pakyong airport Director RK Grover, low-cost carrier SpiceJet will be spearheading operations, offering two flights: one originating from Kolkata and the other from New Delhi.
The airline’s schedule includes daily flights between Kolkata and Pakyong, while the New Delhi-Pakyong route will operate five days a week. These flights will be operated by 78-seater aircraft, as highlighted by Grover.
The suspension of services at Pakyong Airport, which boasts a challenging table-top runway, occurred due to operational issues. Grover explained that although resuming flights could have happened earlier, ongoing maintenance work at the airport caused delays.
However, with the completion of the necessary tasks, the airport is now ready to resume operations.
SpiceJet had initiated flight operations at Pakyong Airport in 2018, but faced inconsistent service due to operational challenges, including visibility issues. The flight from Kolkata is scheduled to depart at 8:05 AM and reach Pakyong at 9:35 AM, departing again at 10:30 AM and reaching Kolkata at 12:10 PM.
The resumption of flight services at Pakyong Airport comes just in time for the summer holidays, a peak period for tourism in the Himalayan state of Sikkim. This move is expected to significantly enhance connectivity to the region and attract a larger number of tourists seeking to explore Sikkim’s natural beauty and cultural richness.
