No Flights To Sikkim Now. Here's Why
NDTV
Pakyong Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2018.
Budget airline SpiceJet has decided to suspend operations to Sikkim's Pakyong Airport, citing operational requirements. It's the only airline to fly to Pakyong and this means there will be no flights to the airport for the time being. Pakyong Airport, which serves state capital Gangtok and the rest of Sikkim, is one of the highest airports in India.
In a letter to the Director of Pakyong Airport, the airline said, "SpiceJet has decided to suspend operations out of Pakyong from 30th October 2022 till further notice. This is due to operation requirements."
SpiceJet operated flights to Pakyong with its turboprop aircraft. Flights to Pakyong were operated under the Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik-Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN-RCS) policy. SpiceJet has around 30 Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft in its fleet, which are used for regional flights.
After a SpiceJet Q400 aircraft coming from Goa made an emergency landing in Hyderabad on October 12 as extensive smoke was detected in the cabin, Civil Aviation Regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) had directed SpiceJet to carry out analysis of engine oil samples from its Q400 fleet, and other inspections.
