Bagdogra Airport

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Bagdogra Airport Civil Aerodrome Bagdogra
IATA: IXB - ICAO: BEVD
Summary
Airport type		Public / Military
Operator		Airports Authority of India / Indian Armed Forces
Serves		Siliguri
Elevation AMSL		412 ft (126 m)
Coordinates		26°40′52″N, 88°19′42″E
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
18/36	9,035	2,754	Concrete/Asphalt

Bagdogra Airport or Civil Aerodrome Bagdogra (IATA: IXB, ICAO: VEBD), a military airport that is open for civilian flights, is located about 16 kilometres from the city of Siliguri in northern West Bengal, India. The airport is a major stop in the region with flights connecting Calcutta, New Delhi and Guwahati. The airport sees thousands of tourists annually, most destined to the hill station towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong and the state of Sikkim.

The airport also has an aerodrome, with regular helicopter flights to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. Foreign tourist permits are made in this airport for foreign tourists intending to journey to Sikkim.

The Indian Air Force's No. 20 Wing is based here. The No. 8 Squadron flying Mig-21 FL fighter aircraft and a Helicopter Unit are based here. Along with the airbase at Hashimara, it is responsible for combat air operations over a large area including North Bengal, Sikkim and if needed,Bhutan. An Indian Army Sub-Area and Base Hospital are located a few kilometres away in Bengdubi. The base is also important as it caters to all military air traffic for the Indian Army's XXXIII Corps based nearby in Sukna.

An Indian Army Aviation Helicopter Squadron is based 15 kilometeres in Sevoke, flying HAL Chetak helicopters.