Tourists season airport closure ring alarm bells in J&K

SRINAGAR: Airports Authority of India plans to suspend operations at Srinagar airport for 16 days in Oct for runway maintenance and other repairs, raising alarm among tour operators who fear the shutdown would deal a blow to an industry still reeling from last year’s Pahalgam attack during peak Durga Puja holiday season when droves of Bengali tourists visit Jammu & Kashmir.

An AAI official said IAF, which operates the airfield, proposed a phased maintenance schedule between July 1 and Sept 30, when services would be stopped every Monday and Tuesday, culminating in the full closure from Oct 1-16. The official said an advisory was issued on the directions of civil aviation ministry.

The Kashmir valley traditionally witnesses a massive influx of tourists from Bengal during Oct, when most schools and colleges are shut during the Durga Puja festivities.

Travel operators and industry stakeholders fear the closure would lead to widespread cancellations and heavy financial losses for an economy still recuperating from the impact of Pahalgam. Stakeholders expressed concern over the timing and appealed to govt and AAI to revisit the schedule.

Hotelier Asif Burza said while upgradation of the airport was important, the facility should not be fully closed. “Efforts should be made to lessen the inconvenience,” Burza, who has properties across tourist destinations in the valley, told PTI.

He said frequency of flights should be increased to compensate for the losses. He also sought higher frequency for the newly launched trains.

Farooq Kuthoo, president of Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, said tourists were wary of the disruption and cancellations were already taking place. “We are already receiving such queries. We appeal to govt to seriously review it,” he told PTI. His association has termed the move “unfortunate” and “unjustified”.

Nasir Shah, chairman of Indian Association of Tour Operators’ J&K chapter, said if upgradation of the airport runway was necessary, the runway at Awantipora air base — located about an hour’s drive from Srinagar — should be put into service as an alternative.

Hospitality and travel stakeholders said cutting off air connectivity during a busy domestic tourism block could devastate the local economy.

Srinagar airport authorities, however, said the schedule was still in the planning phase. “As soon as the schedule is formally approved, detailed updates will be shared through official channels,” according to a post on the airport’s X handle.

The last such maintenance exercise was carried out in 2011.

(With inputs from PTI)