Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Oct 19
Srinagar International Airport will resume extended operating hours from October 25, allowing airlines to schedule late-evening flights after restrictions imposed during runway repairs, airport officials said on Monday.
An airport official said airlines had been informed through a Notice to Airmen that the limits on operating hours had been withdrawn.
The restrictions, in place from April, limited flights to between 8 am and 5 pm and reduced daily arrivals to about 25-30 from around 50 before the repairs.
“The Winter Schedule 2026 will come into effect from October 25,” the airport said in a statement, adding that airlines were filing slots for late-evening services.
Operations beyond 5 pm can now be planned according to the applicable schedule, subject to operational requirements, the statement said.
The resumption is expected to improve connectivity for tourists and local passengers, although the operation of evening flights during winter will depend partly on runway visibility and weather conditions.
The airport advised passengers to check flight timings and status with their airlines before travelling.
A proposal to close the airport for two weeks in October was scrapped earlier this year, easing concerns among travellers.
Flight movements at Srinagar have reached about 70 a day in previous years, but services declined following a sharp fall in tourist arrivals after the Pahalgam attack last year. Runway repairs further curtailed operations.
A broader airport expansion plan, including an enlarged terminal and improved passenger facilities, is also in the pipeline.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Javid Ahmad Tenga welcomed the withdrawal of the restrictions, saying longer operating hours would give tourists and residents more options when planning journeys.
The move comes as the region prepares for the winter travel season, when reliable air connectivity becomes particularly important.
