By Tehelka Web Desk Srinagar International Airport will remain closed for passenger flight operations every Monday and Tuesday from July through September due to ongoing runway repair works, airport authorities said. Director, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Srinagar, Javed Anjum, confirmed the development.
The decision marks a revision of an earlier schedule communicated by the Indian Air Force. In February, the Air Force had informed the Airports Authority of India and airlines operating to Srinagar that the airport would remain closed every Saturday and Sunday from August 1 to October 15 for runway resurfacing work.
The announcement comes as runway repair works continue at the airport. At present, the airport handles approximately 35 to 40 flight arrivals daily. “While the watch hours have been reduced, flight movements are expected to increase in line with the DGCA-approved Summer Schedule. Airlines will plan and operate flights accordingly within the revised timings,” the AAI had said. The runway repair work has also affected the handling of baggage for Hajj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia, prompting concerns among travellers and tourism stakeholders about the impact of the bi-weekly airport closure during the peak summer season.