Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah seeks review of Srinagar Airport closure to protect tourism
NEW DELHI, June 12, 2026 – Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has met separately with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi to raise concerns over the proposed closure of Srinagar International Airport from October 1 to 16, 2026.
The closure is scheduled under Phase III of a runway resurfacing project. During the meetings, the Chief Minister underscored the critical importance of maintaining uninterrupted air connectivity to Jammu and Kashmir, particularly during the peak autumn tourism season when the valley attracts a large number of visitors from across the country.
While acknowledging that the resurfacing works are essential for operational safety and fully respecting the assessment of the Indian Air Force, Omar Abdullah expressed concern over the timing of the project’s final phase. He informed the Union Ministers that air services to the valley have already been curtailed since April due to earlier phases of the resurfacing programme.
He noted that a complete suspension of flights during the first half of October would adversely affect tourism, hospitality, transport, handicrafts, and allied sectors that sustain thousands of livelihoods across the region.Highlighting the broader economic implications, Omar Abdullah stated that the proposed closure could lead to large-scale travel disruptions and cancellations, causing significant inconvenience to residents and visitors while impacting business activity. In his meeting with the Defence Minister, the Chief Minister requested that the Indian Air Force examine the possibility of shortening or phasing the final stage of the runway works without compromising safety or operational requirements.
He further requested that, if a complete closure of Srinagar Airport becomes unavoidable, minimal civil flight operations matching the capacity of the Awantipora Air Base be permitted from that location during the closure period to ensure essential connectivity. Recalling his earlier tenure as Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah noted that during similar runway resurfacing works in September 2010, civil flights successfully operated from Awantipora under a coordinated arrangement involving the Ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation.
He added that the government is working on alternatives to maintain a basic flight schedule, mirroring solutions implemented during similar airport closures in 1998 and 2010.During his meeting with the Union Civil Aviation Minister, the Chief Minister sought intervention to facilitate discussions with the Ministry of Defence to review the timing of Phase III, exploring options to shorten, phase, or shift the closure to a leaner travel window.
He also requested that contingency arrangements be explored in coordination with the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force to ensure continued air connectivity to the valley. The Chief Minister emphasized that any alternative operational arrangement would require extensive inter-agency coordination and advance planning, necessitating an early start well ahead of the scheduled closure period.