Budget carrier SpiceJet, which was the first domestic operator to land a commercial flight at Sikkim’s Pakyong airport from Kolkata in early October of 2018, started to connect the aerodrome from Delhi with a non-stop daily service from January 23. The air services on the new route, to be operated by a Bombardier 400 aircraft, will be offered under the government’s regional connectivity scheme UDAN, SpiceJet said.

The Pakyong airport is the only operational civil airport handling commercial flight operations in Sikkim, and SpiceJet will be the first and only airline to offer daily direct air connectivity between Delhi and the northeastern State, it said.

SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said, “We are delighted to launch new flights connecting Pakyong and Leh to the national capital. Sikkim is one of the most beautiful and sought-after travel destinations in India.”

He added that the flights from Delhi to Pakyong (Gangtok) would cater to the growing demand for leisure travellers and backpackers who want to visit this beautiful city in the Himalayas’ foothills.