Commercial Flights Resume at Srinagar Airport After Tensions with Pakistan
Resumption of Flight Operations
After a temporary halt due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, commercial flights at Srinagar Airport resumed operations on Tuesday. Officials confirmed that flight services at Srinagar International Airport restarted around noon on Tuesday. However, they noted that numerous flights to and from the Kashmir Valley experienced delays, and some airlines had already canceled flights for the day.
Background of the Suspension
The airport, along with 31 others in bordering states, was temporarily closed starting May 9 due to military standoffs between India and Pakistan. It was reopened a few days later. The decision to resume operations at Srinagar was made following an announcement by the Indian Airports Authority on Monday regarding the recommencement of civilian flights at these airports.
First Flight Details
The first flight, Air India (AI 827), departed from Delhi at 11:47 AM and landed in Srinagar around 1 PM. Although the airport reopened, many flights to and from the Kashmir Valley faced delays, and some airlines had already announced cancellations for the day due to the ongoing tensions.
Decline in Flight Operations
Data from airport officials indicated a significant drop in both flight operations and passenger traffic from April 23 to May 8. Between April 1 and April 22, Srinagar Airport managed 1,920 flights and over 366,000 passengers. However, from April 23 to May 8, these numbers plummeted to just 1,162 flights and 147,090 passengers, reflecting a 45% decrease in passenger numbers and a 19% decline in flight operations.
Future Flight Operations
The decision to restart flight operations at Srinagar and other airports came after the Airports Authority of India announced the resumption of civilian flights. They also advised passengers that as of May 15, 2025, at 05:29 AM, 32 airports would be temporarily closed for civilian aircraft operations, but these airports are now available for immediate use.
Flight Cancellations by Airlines
On May 13, Indigo and Air India canceled several flights to various destinations. While operations at Srinagar Airport resumed, both airlines announced cancellations for flights to Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot. In a statement posted on social media, Air India mentioned, "In light of recent developments and with your safety in mind, flights to Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot have been canceled for Tuesday, May 13."