KOLKATA/GANGTOK, Oct 6 - Sikkim became the latest addition to the country�s aviation map on Thursday as SpiceJet operated the first direct commercial flight to the Pakyong airport from Kolkata, the airline said in a statement.
The airline will operate direct flights on the Kolkata-Pakyong-Kolkata route daily under the Centre�s regional connectivity scheme UDAN, the statement said.
SpiceJet�s Bombardier Q400 aircraft carrying 74 people from Kolkata landed at the Pakyong Greenfield Airport on Thursday, a statement issued by the Sikkim Government said.
�A new avenue for transport has been opened up for the common man. This means travel and commuting for the people in Sikkim will not only be less time consuming but convenient as well,� Sikkim Transport Minister DT Lepcha said after the flight landed at Pakyong.
SpiceJet will launch a second flight connecting Guwahati with Pakyong from October 16, the statement added.
The first airport at Pakyong in Sikkim was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 24. � PTI
