Union Civil Aviation ministry responds to MP’s pursuit of Pakyong Airport resumption

<p><b>GANGTOK,:</b> The Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, has responded to the representation made by Indra Hang Subba, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Sikkim, addressed to the Vice President of India, regarding the operationalisation of Pakyong Airport.</p><p>In his communication, the Union Minister informed that the matter was examined in consultation with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Pakyong Airport was earlier operational under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)–UDAN, providing air connectivity to Kolkata, Guwahati, and Delhi. However, flight operations were suspended in June 2024 due to adverse monsoon weather conditions.</p><p>The Union Minister further stated that the Pakyong–Guwahati route has been reconsidered under the UDAN 5.3 round of bidding, and a Letter of Intent has been issued to Jet Wings for operating the route with a 9-seater aircraft, a press release informs on Saturday.</p><p>Additionally, the request for the resumption of flights from Pakyong Airport has been forwarded to all domestic airlines, encouraging them to explore the feasibility of operating from the airport. The Airports Authority of India has conveyed its full preparedness to facilitate flight operations, subject to airlines opting to operate based on market demand and commercial viability.</p><p>Over the past 21 months as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, Indra Hang Subba has consistently raised the issue of air connectivity for Sikkim and has made multiple representations to the concerned authorities and ministries. On his request, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, had earlier chaired a meeting with airline operators to discuss the resumption of flights from Pakyong Airport.</p><p>Welcoming the response from the Ministry, Indra Hang reaffirmed his commitment to continued engagement with the Government of India and airline operators to ensure the early and sustainable resumption of flight services from Pakyong Airport, which is vital for enhancing Sikkim’s connectivity, promoting tourism, and supporting the State’s overall development, the release mentions.</p><div><br></div>

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