Srinagar Airport Full Runway Closure Cancelled for 2026 After CM's Intervention
Srinagar International Airport has withdrawn its proposed Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a full runway closure in 2026, ensuring uninterrupted daytime flight operations this year. The airport announced on Saturday that there will be no full airfield closure during 2026, contrary to earlier plans.
In an operational update posted on X, the airport stated that operations will continue daily from 0800 to 1700 hours. Night closures for runway maintenance will persist until October 2026. The previously proposed NOTAM, which would have closed the runway on Mondays and Tuesdays, has been withdrawn.
The decision follows concerns raised by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu last month. Abdullah suggested that if the Srinagar airport had to be closed, the Awantipora airfield should be opened for civilian flights during maintenance. He also highlighted that October is a peak tourist season, with visitors from West Bengal, Gujarat, and Maharashtra coming to see Kashmir's iconic chinar trees turn golden-yellow. Tourism stakeholders had warned that a prolonged closure would harm the tourism season.
Passengers are advised to check flight status with their airlines and rely on official channels for updates.
