SpiceJet to suspend operations in Sikkim from October 30

SpiceJet, the only airline operating daily flights to and from Greenfield Airport in Sikkim’s Pakyong, will suspend service in the mountain state from October 30 due to “operational restrictions”.
   Bad weather and poor visibility were bottlenecks that led to the decision, according to a spokesman for the low-cost airline.
  “SpiceJet flights to and from Pakyong Airport have been temporarily suspended effective October 30, 2022 due to operational restrictions due to poor weather conditions and poor visibility of Pakyong.
“Pakyong is a VFR (Visual Flight Rules) airport and does not have instrument landing facilities… To avoid any inconvenience to our passengers, flight operations have been temporarily suspended. We will provide an update once services resume,” the spokesman said.
A corresponding notice is posted at the reception desk and at the airport ticket counter.
An airport official said on condition of anonymity that SpiceJet suffered significant losses during the monsoon season when the airline was forced to cancel flights due to bad weather.
   The airline, which started operations from the tabletop airport in 2018, currently has daily direct flights to Delhi and Kolkata.
Officials said the move will cause inconvenience to locals who use flight services based on availability and will also have a detrimental effect on the tourism industry in the landlocked country.
   “We hope to resume services early next year as the weather is usually favorable at this time of year,” a tourism department official said.

-B