The Sikkim government has decided to replace its large 23-seater MI-172 helicopter with a smaller 10-seater aircraft, citing poor passenger turnout, high operational costs, and limited landing access as the main reasons for the shift.
The decision was revealed by C.S. Rao, Additional Chief Secretary of the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, during an exclusive conversation with India Today NE.
The larger helicopter service was introduced on March 6, 2024, with the hope that it would attract a good number of tourists and local travelers, especially on the popular Gangtok–Bagdogra route. However, after operating the MI-172 for over a year, officials have observed that the response has been far below expectations.
“Initially, we thought there would be a good number of passengers. But even on a busy route like Gangtok to Bagdogra, we were seeing just 11 or 12 passengers in the morning flight. On the return leg, sometimes there were only 5 or 6 people. It was not sustainable,” said Rao.
The helicopter was introduced with the belief that it would function reliably in various weather conditions, being an "all-weather" aircraft. But Rao explained that in practice, even minor cloud cover or poor weather grounded flights, causing cancellations and disappointing travelers.
Additionally, the size of the MI-172 made it difficult to land at most of Sikkim's 11 helipads. “Only one or two helipads could accommodate such a large helicopter. The rest were too small. So it wasn’t practical for wide usage across the state,” Rao added.
The financial burden of running the large helicopter also played a major role in the decision. With less than 50% occupancy and frequent cancellations, the service became too expensive for the government to justify continuing.
As a result, the Sikkim government is now in the process of selecting a smaller 10-seater helicopter, which is expected to be more economical and practical for the state's terrain and weather. Negotiations are ongoing with several new aviation agencies, as the current operators like Sky One do not offer smaller aircrafts.
The government hopes to finalize the new service during the current off-season, so that the 10-seater helicopter can be launched by the upcoming tourist season, around Dussehra.
“This time we are being careful. We are talking to multiple agencies, checking availability, safety, and service terms before signing a new contract. We want this service to be helpful to both tourists and locals,” Rao said.
