Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday welcomed the Airports Authority of India's (AAI) decision to withdraw its proposed Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a weekly shutdown of Srinagar International Airport's runway, calling it a major relief for the region's tourism industry.
The Issue
The AAI had proposed closing the runway every Monday and Tuesday for maintenance and resurfacing, spanning the peak summer travel season from July to September. The plan alarmed hoteliers, tour operators and travel agencies, who feared it would disrupt connectivity at the height of the tourist season.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said the proposal had already begun causing harm. "This Monday-Tuesday thing was hitting us very hard. Just yesterday, I spoke to some people from the tourism sector, and many of their groups had started cancelling.
Abdullah's Intervention
Abdullah said he had raised the issue with the central government since it first surfaced, speaking directly with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, and flagging it to the Prime Minister as well. On X, he thanked both ministers, noting the closure had disrupted regular travellers and forced tour groups to cancel visits.
He added that if maintenance requires a shutdown in October, authorities should consider routing flights through the Awantipora Air Force Station to limit passenger inconvenience.
Industry Reaction
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) also welcomed the move. President Javid Ahmad Tenga said the Chamber had raised the issue with the Centre and local administration after concerns from tourism, trade, horticulture, healthcare and business stakeholders. He called Srinagar Airport the lifeline of Kashmir and credited authorities for shifting essential maintenance to night hours instead of a weekly daytime closure, which he said would have hurt hotel occupancy, transport, restaurants and retail across the Valley.
Scale of Disruption Averted
Airport officials confirmed flight operations will now continue all seven days without full-day suspensions. Earlier AAI assessments had estimated a weekly shutdown could affect around 550 flights roughly 1,100 aircraft movements and inconvenience about 2.1 lakh passengers, with an estimated 2,400 passengers disrupted daily.
A longer-term rehabilitation plan reportedly remains under consideration, including a possible 21-day closure between October 16 and November 5, with night operations also affected for months due to work on the Airfield Lighting System.
Why It Matters
The decision comes as Kashmir's tourism sector continues recovering from last year's Pahalgam terror attack, which dented visitor confidence. With peak season underway, the withdrawal is being seen locally as a timely move that averts a potentially serious economic setback for the Valley's tourism-dependent economy
