“With inauguration of Pakyong Airport in Sikkim today by PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji, air connectivity of the State with rest of India has become a reality. Congratulations to the people of Sikkim, the airport will boost tourism & economic development of the State” Arun Jaitley said

Pakyong Airport is a greenfield airport near Gangtok, the state capital of Sikkim, India. It is also the first greenfield airport to be constructed in the Northeastern Region of India, considered as the 100th operational airport in India, and the only airport in the state of Sikkim. The airport expands over 990 acres and is located at Pakyong village which is about 35 km south of Gangtok. At 4500 ft, Pakyong Airport is one of the five highest airports in India. The Airport is expected to increase its connectivity and boost tourism

“ India has hit a century, we are committed to making the Northeast as engine of India’s growth story. For the first time since Independence, stress has been given on increasing connectivity by both air and rail, electricity in remote areas of the Northeast and building infrastructure,”  the Prime Minister said while addressing to the people of Sikkim

The airport was built by the AAI at an estimated cost of 605 crore which ranges 5577 sq ft runway and a 116 m  long taxiway connecting it to an apron that can accommodate two ATR 72 aircraft at a time. Navigation facilities include Non-Directional Beacon(NDB), VHF Omnidirectional Range VOR, High Intensity Runway Lights (HIRL), airport beacon, and a precision approach path indicator (PAPI),which is a visual aid that provides guidance information to help a pilot acquire and maintain the correct approach.  A terminal building measuring 25,600 sq ft with a capacity of more than 100 passengers, a car park for 80 vehicles and a fire station cum Air Traffic Control Tower was constructed by Ms PABSCON.

On 10 March 2018, The first landing by a commercial airliner at the airport was by a Spicejet Bombardier aircraft. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Pakyong Airport on 24th September 2018 with flights commencing from 4th October connecting Kolkata and Guwahati.” The airport is spread over 201 acres and is located on top of a hill about two km above Pakyong village at 4,500 feet above sea level,” Sikkim Chief Secretary AK Srivastava said.