Traders term it major relief for tourism, business
Night-time runway maintenance to continue till Oct
Srinagar, Jul 04: As part of a major relief for air travellers, tourists and the business community, Srinagar Airport on Saturday withdrew the proposed Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) envisaging full runway closure on Mondays and Tuesdays, announcing that flight operations will continue on all days this year.
In an operational update, the airport said there will be no full airfield closure this year and that operations will continue daily with operational/watch hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, while night-time runway maintenance will continue till October 2026.
“Passengers are advised that there will be no full airfield closure at Srinagar Airport this year. Airport operations will continue on all days with operational/watch hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Night closures for runway maintenance will continue until October 2026,” the airport said, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The airport further said that the previously proposed NOTAM regarding full runway closure on Mondays and Tuesdays has been withdrawn, adding that airlines will continue updating their schedules in accordance with the notified operational timings.
Passengers have been advised to check the status of their flights with their respective airlines before leaving for the airport and rely only on official channels for authentic updates.
Meanwhile, the Valley’s trading fraternity welcomed the decision, describing it as a timely relief for the tourism and business sectors.
“We welcome the airport authorities’ decision to withdraw the proposed weekly runway closure. It will ensure seamless connectivity during the peak tourist season and prevent inconvenience to travellers as well as losses to trade and tourism,” Manzoor Ahmad, a tour and travel operator from Srinagar said.
Moreover, traders also expressed hope that the remaining runway maintenance would be completed during night hours without affecting normal flight operations in the coming months. (KNO)
