Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday, 4 July thanked the Union government after it reversed a plan to shut Srinagar International Airport on Mondays and Tuesdays for runway maintenance, ensuring uninterrupted air connectivity to the region. The decision averts a significant disruption to travel, tourism, and trade in Jammu and Kashmir at a time when the valley is in the midst of its peak tourist season.

What Changed and Why

Authorities had earlier announced a full closure of Srinagar airport on Mondays and Tuesdays, with an additional fortnight-long shutdown after 16 October 2026 for comprehensive runway maintenance. Under the revised plan, no full airfield closure will take place this year. Instead, runway maintenance will be carried out after flight operations conclude each day and before they resume the following morning.

Airport officials confirmed on social media platform X that operational and watch hours will run from 0800 hrs to 1700 hrs on all days, with night closures for maintenance continuing until October 2026. The previously issued NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) proposing full runway closure on Mondays and Tuesdays is being formally withdrawn.

What Omar Abdullah Said

The Chief Minister's office stated that Omar Abdullah had personally taken up the matter with the Union government to safeguard the interests of passengers, the tourism sector, trade, and the broader population of Jammu and Kashmir. 'The decision ensures uninterrupted air connectivity to the region, preventing disruption to travel, tourism, and economic activity,' the Chief Minister's office said.

Abdullah's direct intervention underscores the political and economic weight of the airport's operations for a region where air travel is often the only viable link to the rest of the country, particularly for tourists and perishable cargo.

Scale of Srinagar Airport Operations

Srinagar Airport handles approximately 60 to 70 commercial flight movements — arrivals and departures combined — on an average day, translating to roughly 30 to 35 round-trip flights. During peak tourist seasons, particularly spring and summer, daily movements can scale to 100 or more.

The Srinagar–Delhi route is the busiest corridor, accounting for more than 56% of all weekly departures, with 15 to 20 daily flights. The airport is currently served by five domestic carriers: IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Air India Express, and Akasa Air.

Passenger Advisory

Airport officials have urged passengers to check their flight status directly with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport and to rely only on official channels for updates. Airlines are expected to revise their schedules in line with the updated operational timings.

With the revised maintenance schedule now in place, the focus shifts to whether night-window maintenance can be completed within the compressed daily timeframe without compromising runway safety standards ahead of the busy autumn travel period.