Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu in New Delhi on Friday, 12 June, urging a review of the planned shutdown of Srinagar International Airport scheduled from 1 to 16 October for runway maintenance. Abdullah stressed that the closure coincides with Kashmir's peak tourism window and called for the schedule to be shortened, phased, or shifted to a leaner travel period.

What the Chief Minister Proposed

According to a post on X from the Chief Minister's office, Abdullah raised concerns about uninterrupted air connectivity to the Valley during the high-footfall autumn season. He urged that the maintenance window be reviewed and, where feasible, restructured to minimise disruption.

Abdullah also proposed operating a limited number of civilian flights from Awantipora Air Base during the closure period as a contingency measure to ensure continued connectivity for residents, tourists, and businesses.

Existing Disruptions Already in Place

The proposed October shutdown is not an isolated development. Airport authorities have already announced that effective 1 July, there will be no flight operations at Srinagar International Airport on Mondays and Tuesdays — a weekly curtailment that has already drawn attention from the tourism sector.

The additional fortnight-long closure from 1 to 16 October for runway maintenance would compound the disruption during what is typically one of Kashmir's busiest travel months.

Why Srinagar Airport Matters to Kashmir's Economy

Srinagar International Airport is the primary air gateway to the Kashmir Valley, located in Budgam district, approximately 12 km south of Srinagar city. Owned by the Indian Air Force and operated under a civil enclave by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the facility has been functional since 1979 and was designated an international airport in 2005. It has a single asphalt runway serving both domestic and international routes.

A significant proportion of tourists visiting Kashmir — particularly high-spending visitors who travel across all four seasons — rely exclusively on air travel. The absence of flight services, even briefly, is widely considered to have an outsized adverse impact on the local hospitality, hotel, and transport ecosystem.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The meeting signals growing concern within the Jammu and Kashmir government over the cumulative effect of aviation disruptions on the region's tourism-dependent economy. This comes amid a broader push by the UT administration to position Kashmir as a year-round travel destination.

It remains to be seen whether the Civil Aviation Ministry will revise the maintenance schedule or greenlight the Awantipora Air Base alternative. A formal response from the ministry is awaited.