SpiceJet on Thursday (April 4) announced that it has resumed flight operations to Pakyong airport in Sikkim from both Kolkata and Delhi. According to the airline’s statement, the Delhi-Pakyong route is scheduled to operate five days a week, while the Kolkata-Pakyong flight will be available daily.
In a bid to expand its network, the low-cost carrier also introduced non-stop flights between Hyderabad and Ayodhya starting from Tuesday.
Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer of SpiceJet, expressed satisfaction with the increased connectivity to Ayodhya and Pakyong, and said, “We are happy to enhance connectivity to Ayodhya and Pakyong ahead of the forthcoming peak travel season. With an expanding fleet, we are poised to launch new routes and reinstate services on key ones.”
Pakyong airport flights
Flight services by SpiceJet to Pakyong airport resumed on March 31, aiming to meet the high demand from tourists visiting the Himalayan state during the summer.
As per the current schedule, the daily flight from Kolkata will depart at 8:05 am, arriving at Pakyong at 9:35 am. The return leg will depart at 10:30 am, reaching Kolkata at 12:10 pm.
Similarly, the flight from New Delhi is scheduled to depart at 9:45 am, landing at Pakyong at 12:40 pm. The return flight will take off at 1:10 pm, arriving in New Delhi at 4:10 pm.
Flights operating at full capacity
B T Pote, the officiating airport director at Pakyong airport, highlighted that all flights have been operating at full capacity since the resumption.
“All the flights have been full since the services resumed, the weather is very good and we are fully prepared to handle flights to the airport even during the monsoon season,” the officiating APD said.
Pote further noted the excellent road connectivity to the airport from various parts of the state and neighboring areas, ensuring hassle-free travel for tourists.
When and why were flight services suspended at Pakyong airport?
Flight services at Pakyong airport, which features a table-top runway, were suspended approximately six months ago due to operational issues.
SpiceJet initiated flight operations to Pakyong airport in 2018, but services have been sporadic due to various operational challenges, including visibility concerns.