Monday June 1, 2026 – Srinagar’s sole civil airport is set to go dark every Monday and Tuesday from July through September this year, as the Airports Authority of India confirmed a sustained suspension of passenger flight operations to facilitate long-overdue runway resurfacing. AAI Srinagar Director Javed Anjum announced the revised closure schedule, noting that the plan replaces an earlier proposal to shut the airport on weekends between August and mid-October. The change was finalised following ongoing complications caused by existing runway restrictions, which have already disrupted baggage handling for Hajj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia.
The decision is drawing sharp reactions from Kashmir’s tourism sector. Travel operators warn that a twice-weekly shutdown spanning the peak tourist season could trigger cancellations, particularly among families and group travellers who depend on flexible booking options. With Kashmir riding a significant tourism surge this summer — partly driven by the oppressive heatwave gripping the rest of India — the timing of the closure is particularly sensitive. Before current restrictions were introduced in April, the airport handled around 60 flight movements per day. Aviation officials have indicated that a decision on the post-September period will be taken separately.
