SpiceJet is set to launch its first flight in the mountainous region of Sikkim on October 04 between Pakyong and Kolkata.

The budget carrier will operate daily direct flights on the Pakyong-Kolkata sector from October 4 and the Pakyong-Guwahati sector from October 16, said the airline.

According to reports, the airline will be deploying its Bombardier Q-400 aircraft on the route.

SG 3324, operating on the Kolkata-Pakyong route, will depart from Kolkata for Pakyong at 9:30 am, whereas SG 3325 operating on the route of Pakyong-Guwahati route will depart at 11.15 am, a statement by the airline said. SpiceJet was awarded the routes under UDAN II.

The greenfield Pakyong airport which is close to Gangtok, had received the aerodrome license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in May for commercial operations.

It will be the 100th functional airport in the country. Sikkim is the only state without a functional airport at present.

SpiceJet had successfully operated a test flight to Pakyong, making it the first civil fixed aircraft to land at the airport, n March 10.

The announcement about the launch of the service was made in the presence of Sikkim Chief Miniser Pawan Kumar Chamling, said a SpiceJet statement.

Senior SpiceJet officials handed over the first ticket to Chamling, thereby marking the formal announcement of the launch of the new flight service, it said.