Bagdogra Airport — Siliguri, India

IXB occupies a strategic spot in West Bengal near the base of the Himalayan foothills, functioning as the principal air gateway for travelers heading toward Darjeeling's tea estates, the mountain state of Sikkim, and even nearby Bhutan, none of which have comparable commercial airports of their own. Shared with the Indian Air Force, the airfield reflects the sensitive geography of a region wedged close to India's borders with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China, all converging within a relatively narrow corridor known as the Siliguri Corridor or Chicken's Neck. Passenger traffic through IXB rises sharply during peak tourist seasons, when visitors from across India and abroad arrive to escape summer heat in the hill stations above or to view the Himalayan peaks, including Kangchenjunga, on clear days. Domestic carriers link the airport to Kolkata, Delhi, and other major Indian cities year-round.