GUWAHATI, Oct 28 - Three new cities � Pakyong near Gangtok in Sikkim, Bhubaneswar in Odisha and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh � got direct air connectivity from Guwahati today.
The historic flight from Pakyong started by SpiceJet (SG-3325) arrived in Guwahati at 12:20 pm. This is the 102nd route operational under the UDAN scheme.
Rousing water cannon salute was given to the flight on the occasion. The same flight (SG-3326) departed Guwahati at 12:40 pm to Pakyong and a formal ceremony was held for flagging off the flight and greeting the passengers. The flying time between Guwahati and Pakyong is one hour.
IndiGo also started its services to Bhubaneswar and Varanasi from the city airport. The flight 6E-726 from Bhubaneswar arrived in Guwahati at 8:15 am and 6E-731 departed for Bhubaneswar at 1:50 pm.
IndiGo flight 6E-953 departed for Varanasi at 8:45 am and 6E-954 arrived in Guwahati at 1:15 pm.
�It was long pending demand of the passengers from Assam and after this, it will boost air connectivity and promote tourism in northeast India where Guwahati acts as a major hub for the other states in the region,� an official statement said.
Around 18 cities are now directly connected to Guwahati by air. There are 70 incoming and outgoing flights daily now.
Guwahati Airport Director Ramesh Kumar, AAI officials, CISF commandant and airline officers were present on the occasion to greet passengers.
Meanwhile, the winter flight schedules from LGBI airport started today and will continue till March.
