Ziraat Times News Desk
Srinagar, July 4: Srinagar Airport has withdrawn its proposed weekly runway closure plan, ensuring uninterrupted flight operations on all days this year, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the decision and thanked the Government of India for suspending the proposed closure.
In an operational update, the airport announced that the previously proposed Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which envisaged a full runway closure on Mondays and Tuesdays for maintenance, has been withdrawn. Flight operations will continue daily with operational and watch hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, while night-time runway maintenance will continue until October 2026.
The airport clarified that there will be no full airfield closure this year and advised passengers to check flight status with their respective airlines before travelling to the airport, relying only on official channels for updates. Airlines will continue to revise their schedules in line with the operational timings.
Welcoming the development, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude to the Government of India for responding positively to the concerns raised by the Jammu & Kashmir government over the proposed runway closure.
The Chief Minister said he had personally taken up the matter with the Centre to safeguard the interests of passengers, the tourism industry, trade and the people of Jammu & Kashmir, who would have been adversely affected by the proposed suspension of flight operations.
“Grateful to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Ji and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Ji for acceding to our request and suspending the airport closure order. This closure had created a lot of difficulties for regular travellers and forced tour groups and tourists to cancel their planned visits,” Omar Abdullah said.
He said the decision would ensure uninterrupted air connectivity to Jammu & Kashmir, preventing disruption to travel, tourism and economic activity, particularly during the peak tourist season.
The Chief Minister reiterated that seamless air connectivity is critical for the Union Territory’s economy and thanked the Central Government for its prompt intervention in addressing the concerns raised by the Jammu & Kashmir government.
