Gangtok, Sikkim
News Update: 03-Sep-2018
Finally, from the next month of October, the Pakyong airport will be functional for the regular commercial flights. From the 4th of October, one can directly fly to Sikkim from the Kolkata Airport. The private airline SpiceJet has been given the clearance by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to start the flight service from the Pakyong airport, the first and only airport in Sikkim under the UDAN scheme, an Indian government’s scheme to boost regional connectivity through the air travel.
According to the airport officials, SpiceJet will start the first commercial daily flight service for Sikkim on October 4, between the Kolkata airport and the Pakyong airport. The flight booking has already been started on the official website of the SpiceJet from the last Friday. At present, the SpiceJet flight service is the only carrier to obtain the license for the commercial operation at the newly built Pakyong airport in Sikkim. The airline is offering the introductory fare of INR 2600 for the one-way flight, from Kolkata to Pakyong airport.
It is the SpiceJet airline who commenced the first trial run from Kolkata airport to Pakyong airport in its 80-seater Bombardier Q 400 on 10th March this year and made the maiden landing on the Pakyong Airport. The director of the Pakyong airport, R. Manjunatha said on Friday that all the necessary clearances have already been received from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. So, the final preparations are being made for commencing the daily flights from October 4. He also said, “In January, Druk Air will start its twice-a-week service between the Pakyong and Bhutan’s Paro. A number of chartered flight operators have contacted us for slots.”
The Pakyong airport is spread in the area of 990 acres with the terminal building built in the area of 3200sq m. The airport is located in the East Sikkim district, around 28 km from the city of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. The flight time is also scheduled for the Pakyong airport. The takeoff time is 9.30 am from Kolkata and the landing time is 10.55 am at Pakyong whereas the take off time from the Pakyong is 11.15 am and landing time at Kolkata is 12.45 pm.
However, the above schedule is valid from 4th to 15th October. From 16th October onwards, the SpiceJet flight will extend its flight from Pokyang to Guwahati. It means the flight will leave Guwahati and reach Kolkata via Pakyong. So, the flight will take off from Guhawati and make a stopover at the Pakyong and then reach the Kolkata city. The 78-seater Bombardier Q400 series aircraft will be used by SpiceJet for the daily flight to and from Pakyong. At present, the tourists visiting the Sikkim have to fly to Bagdogra airport in Siliguri first and then travel around 5 hours by road to reach Gangtok.
