Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 1

Srinagar International Airport will remain closed two days a week from July through September due to runway repair works, airport officials said, a move that has raised concerns among tourism stakeholders in Kashmir during the peak travel season.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) Srinagar said the airport will suspend operations every Monday and Tuesday from July 1 to the end of September as part of ongoing resurfacing work.

“We have received the communication that due to runway repairs, passenger flight operations will be affected on every Monday and Tuesday in July, August and September,” AAI Srinagar Director Javed Anjum said.

The revised schedule replaces an earlier proposal circulated by the Indian Air Force in February that had indicated weekend closures from August 1 to October 15.

Officials said the timing has now been changed to weekday closures, while the final schedule beyond September will be decided later.

Runway maintenance at the airport has already led to reduced operational hours in recent months, with flight operations restricted to daytime slots during ongoing repair work.

At present, Srinagar airport handles around 35 to 40 daily flight movements, though officials said this number is expected to adjust according to the DGCA-approved summer schedule.

The closure announcement has triggered concern among tourism and travel operators, who warned that repeated shutdowns during the peak season could disrupt bookings and affect visitor inflow to the Valley.

“Tourism was picking up, and this directive will derail the momentum,” said Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club, calling for alternative arrangements that allow partial operations during repairs.

Travel Agents Society of Kashmir president Muhammad Ibrahim Siah said the decision was taken without consultation with stakeholders and could lead to cancellations and passenger congestion on operational days.

Travel operators also flagged logistical challenges in rescheduling flights, hotel bookings and transport arrangements, particularly for short-duration tourist visits.

The airport is the only civilian air gateway to Kashmir and serves as a key link for both tourism and essential travel to the region.