Srinagar Airport full closure cancelled: ops daily till Oct 2026
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Srinagar International Airport will not face any full closure this year, authorities confirmed on Saturday, 4 July 2025, reversing a previously announced plan that would have suspended all flight operations on Mondays and Tuesdays and shut the airport entirely for a fortnight after 16 October. The decision ensures uninterrupted passenger services through the remainder of the year.
What Changed and Why
The airport had earlier issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) proposing a full runway closure on Mondays and Tuesdays to facilitate maintenance work. That notice is now being formally withdrawn. Instead, runway upkeep will be carried out during off-hours — after daily flight operations conclude and before they resume the following morning. Night closures for runway maintenance will, however, continue until October 2026.
Operational hours at the airport are set at 0800 hrs to 1700 hrs on all days, and airlines have been asked to update their schedules in line with these timings.
Official Statement from the Airport
In a post on social media platform X, Srinagar Airport officials stated: 'Passengers are advised that there will be no full airfield closure at Srinagar Airport this year.' They further added: 'The previously proposed NOTAM regarding full runway closure on Mondays and Tuesdays is being withdrawn. Airlines will continue to update their schedules in accordance with the prevailing operational timings.'
Passengers were also urged to verify their flight status directly with their respective airlines and to rely only on official channels for authentic updates.
Airport Operations at a Glance
Srinagar Airport handles between 60 and 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 frequently scale to 100 or more.
The Srinagar–Delhi corridor remains the busiest route, accounting for more than 56 per cent of all weekly departures, with 15 to 20 daily flights operating on the sector. The airport is currently served by five domestic carriers: IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Air India Express, and Akasa Air.
Impact on Travellers and Airlines
The reversal is significant for both leisure and business travellers heading to Jammu and Kashmir during the summer tourism peak. A Monday–Tuesday suspension would have disrupted weekend travel plans and forced airlines to reroute or cancel dozens of flights each week. With the closure now off the table, connectivity to the Valley remains intact through the high-demand season.
This is not the first time operational decisions at Srinagar Airport have been revised at short notice; the airport's high-altitude location and seasonal weather patterns routinely require scheduling adjustments. Airlines are expected to issue revised timetables in the coming days.