Technical glitches resolved, night flights resume at Bagdogra

Bagdogra airport resumed its night flight facility on Saturday. A private airline flight flew from Kolkata to Bagdogra on Saturday night and landed there safely. The authority of the Bagdogra airport were satisfied and convinced with the night flight operation. They informed that it will be a regular affair from now onwards.

It should be recalled that some private flights started night flights from Kolkata to Bagdogra in 2013. Private airlines started operating flights daily from October 1 in 2013 as a trial for night landing. But later, the night flight operation was stopped by the authority, due to some technical problem.

On Saturday, the flight took 142 passengers from Kolkata to Bagdogra. It touched down at around 11.55 pm. The authority of the Bagdogra airport, were trying to start the night flight facility for a long time. They took it as their success, after the night flight successfully landed on Saturday.

The flight was scheduled for Bagdogra from Kolkata at 4 pm. But it started late from Kolkata due to the unfriendly weather. The flight, later, flew to Delhi, from Bagdogra airport. Earlier, the flights reached to Bagdogra from Kolkata and Delhi at night.

The airport officials met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Bagdogra airport when she was on her way back to Kolkata from Delhi in 2013. The Chief Minister instructed them to take necessary steps to start frequent flight operation. It would be a positive sign to Bengal’s economy. The authority then started the night flight operation. But unfortunately it was stopped due to technical glitch.

Bagdogra is an international airport which is 16 km west of the Siliguri. It is operated as a ‘civil enclave’ of the Indian Air Force. It also serves as a gateway airport to the hill stations in north Bengal.