Sikkim gets its first airport, commercial flights to commence from October 4

24 September, 2018: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated an aerodrome at Pakyong, Sikkim. This is the first greenfield airport in Northeast India and covers an area of 990 acres. The airport has been constructed at a cost of more than Rs 600 crore. The airport, which is located 33 kilometre away from state capital – Gangtok, will provide passengers ease connectivity to Sikkim via air.

Earlier, visitors had to take a flight to West Bengal's Bagdogra airport and then travel for 124 kilometre uphill to reach Gangtok. Till date, Sikkim was the only state in the country that had no functional airport.

The first commercial flight from Pakyong would commence from October 4. SpiceJet will fly its 78-seater Bombardier Q400 flights to and fro Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati everyday. The airport has a 1.75 kilometre runway with a width of 30 metre.