Srinagar Airport authorities will suspend flights twice weekly starting July 1 to perform essential runway maintenance [1].
These closures are expected to disrupt the Kashmir tourism industry during a peak travel window. The scheduled work represents a significant infrastructure challenge for the region as it relies heavily on air connectivity for visitors.
Airport officials said flights will be suspended every Monday and Tuesday from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2026 [1]. This three-month period of partial closures is designed to allow crews to perform safety and infrastructure upgrades without completely halting operations for the entire summer.
The maintenance schedule concludes with a more extensive shutdown in October 2026. Reports on the exact duration of this final phase vary between 15 [1] and 16 days [2].
Authorities said the maintenance is required for long-term safety and infrastructure upgrades [1]. The project aims to ensure the runway meets modern aviation standards, though the timing creates a logistical hurdle for travelers and tour operators.
Travelers are advised to check their flight schedules for the duration of the project. The bi-weekly suspensions during the summer and the multi-day closure in October will require airlines to reroute or cancel flights affecting the Kashmir valley [1], [2].
“Flights will be suspended every Monday and Tuesday from July 1 to September 30, 2026”
The phased approach to maintenance, combining short-term weekly suspensions with a longer October shutdown, attempts to balance critical safety upgrades with the needs of the tourism sector. However, the inconsistency in flight availability may lead to a decrease in tourist arrivals and complicate logistics for regional travel providers.
