Srinagar airport closed, air traffic diverted to Awantipora

News (03.09.2010) : Srinagar airport closed, air traffic diverted to Awantipora.

Civilian air traffic has been diverted to Indian Air Force's airport at Awantipora in south Kashmir's Pulwama district after the Srinagar airport was closed for 12 days for upgradation and repairs. "All the inbound flights to Srinagar will be landing at Awantipora airport till the works at the Srinagar airport are completed," an official of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) said here.

GoAir is the only airline which will continue its two flights daily to and from Srinagar during the closure period even as most of the airlines flying to Srinagar have cut their operations till September 15.

Indian Airlines will operate a total of only three flights to Srinagar from Delhi and Jammu till September 15.

The Srinagar International Airport, which is maintained by the Ministry of Defence, was closed for maintenance and repair works on the tarmac and runway. The works are likely to be completed by September 15, officials said.

The repair works were earlier scheduled to be carried out in June this year but it was deferred after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah pleaded the Centre that closure of airport would affect the tourist season.