Srinagar’s Sheikh ul‑Alam International Airport will not undergo the complete runway closure that had been slated for every Monday and Tuesday this year, airport officials said on Tuesday. The notice to airmen (NOTAM) that called for a full shutdown of the runway on those days has been withdrawn, meaning commercial flights can continue operating on the existing schedule for the remainder of 2026.
What happened
The airport’s public‑relations office issued a brief statement confirming that the previously issued NOTAM, which required a total runway closure on Mondays and Tuesdays, has been cancelled. “The full‑runway shutdown that was proposed in the NOTAM has been cancelled for the remainder of 2026,” the statement read. “Normal flight operations will continue as per the existing schedule.”
The decision follows a review of operational requirements and coordination with airlines and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). While the airport will still carry out routine runway maintenance, it will now be performed in phases that do not require a total shutdown. The statement added that a “phased maintenance plan” will be implemented to ensure safety while minimizing disruption. No specific timeline for the phased work was disclosed, and the airport did not indicate whether any partial closures or night‑time restrictions might be imposed.
Why it matters
Srinagar’s airport is the primary gateway to the Kashmir valley, handling over 2 million passengers annually and serving as a hub for both domestic and limited international traffic. A full runway shutdown would have forced airlines to cancel or divert flights, potentially stranding passengers and disrupting cargo movements, especially during peak travel periods such as the summer vacation season and religious festivals.
Airlines had previously raised concerns that a total closure on two days each week would erode load factors and increase operational costs. The withdrawal of the NOTAM therefore removes a logistical bottleneck for carriers that have few alternative airports in the region. For passengers, the decision preserves the reliability of scheduled services and reduces the risk of missed connections.
Background and context
Sheikh ul‑Alam International Airport (IATA: SXR) is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and falls under the regulatory oversight of the DGCA. Runway resurfacing and major maintenance are typically scheduled during periods of low traffic to limit disruption. In recent years, the airport has undertaken periodic upgrades, including the installation of a new instrument landing system in 2022 and the expansion of its apron area in 2024.
The original NOTAM, issued in early 2026, called for a full runway closure on Mondays and Tuesdays to accommodate a comprehensive resurfacing project. Such full‑runway shutdowns are not unprecedented in Indian aviation; for example, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport closed its primary runway for 48 hours in 2023 to replace a deteriorated pavement section. However, those closures were announced well in advance and coordinated with a detailed mitigation plan that included rerouting flights to secondary runways or nearby airports.
In the Kashmir context, alternative airports are limited. The nearby Srinagar‑Kashmir International Airport’s secondary runway is not certified for commercial operations, and the nearest major airport with comparable capacity is Jammu’s Satwari Airport, which is roughly 300 km away and lacks the same passenger‑handling infrastructure. Consequently, a full runway shutdown would have placed disproportionate pressure on airlines and passengers in the valley.
Competing claims and uncertainty
The airport’s statement did not disclose the specific reasons for withdrawing the NOTAM, leaving room for speculation. One line of reporting, based on unnamed airline sources, suggested that carriers had threatened to reduce flight frequencies if the full closure proceeded, citing potential revenue losses. Another perspective, voiced by a senior AAI engineer in a separate interview with a regional news outlet, indicated that the resurfacing work could be segmented into night‑time windows without compromising safety standards.
The DGCA has not released an official comment on the change, and no updated NOTAMs have been published to detail any upcoming partial closures or night‑time restrictions. As a result, the exact scope and schedule of the phased maintenance remain uncertain. Stakeholders will be watching for any future NOTAMs that might signal limited runway availability, especially during the monsoon season when weather‑related delays are common.
What to watch next
1. Future NOTAMs – The airport is required to issue new NOTAMs for any partial closures, night‑time work, or temporary speed restrictions. Monitoring the AAI’s NOTAM portal will reveal whether phased maintenance will affect specific flight slots.
2. Airline schedules – Major carriers operating at SXR, including Air India, IndiGo, and GoAir, typically adjust their timetables in response to runway availability. Any changes to flight frequencies or timings in the next quarterly schedule release could indicate operational impacts from the phased work.
3. DGCA oversight – The regulator may issue safety bulletins or audit reports concerning the maintenance methodology. Such documents, if made public, would shed light on whether the phased approach meets the agency’s standards for runway integrity.
4. Passenger feedback – Consumer complaints filed with the Ministry of Civil Aviation or the AAI’s grievance cell could provide early signals of service disruptions, if any arise from the new maintenance regime.
Conclusion
The cancellation of the full runway shutdown at Sheikh ul‑Alam International Airport removes a potentially disruptive measure that would have affected airlines, passengers, and cargo operators across the Kashmir valley. By shifting to a phased maintenance strategy, airport authorities aim to balance safety imperatives with the commercial realities of a region that relies heavily on a single air gateway. While the precise timetable for the phased work remains undisclosed, the decision underscores the importance of flexible infrastructure management in a high‑traffic, geographically constrained environment. Continued vigilance—through monitoring of NOTAMs, airline schedules, and regulator communications—will be essential to assess whether the phased approach delivers the intended balance of safety and operational continuity.
Sources
– “No full runway shutdown at Srinagar airport this year: airport authorities,” The Hindu, July 4 2026. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jammu-and-kashmir/no-full-runway-shutdown-at-srinagar-airport-this-year-airport-authorities/article71182052.ece
Story synopsis gathered from: The Hindu – National — source
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