Summary:
Located 30 km from state capital Gangtok, Pakyong will become the country’s 100th operational airport when the first scheduled flight — Spice-Jet Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 aircraft — lands there on October 4.“With Pakyong, we have hit a century,” Modi declared, after inaugurating the 100th operational airport in the country. Last year, a four-month shutdown had left Sikkim frustrated with chief minister Pawan Chamling demanding special allowance for vehicles bound for his state.Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey emphasised the importance of Pakyong airport that has put Sikkim on the aviation map.“With one or two daily flights, Pakyong airport will not be economically viable. “In 67 years since Independence, we had just 65 airports, less than one airport per year. From October 16, a flight will commence between Pakyong and Guwahati.The airport also frees the state from the vulnerability of blockades during statehood agitations in Darjeeling. In the past four years, we have added 35 new airports at the rate of nine airports a year,” he said..