Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Wednesday that on the request of the state government, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Air Force (IAF) have agreed to allow flight
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Wednesday that on the request of the state government, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Air Force (IAF) have agreed to allow flight operations from Srinagar Airport up to 10 pm at night and that operators should take advantage of this extended flight operation timing, especially in summer season, when there is maximum tourist inflow to Kashmir.
The chief minister flagged off the maiden evening flight from Srinagar airport On Wednesday evening. Officials termed it as a significant development “which would go a long way in boosting tourism and help expansion of economic activity in Jammu and Kashmir.’’ Operated by GoAir, the flight will take off at 6.40 pm daily from Srinagar for New Delhi.
With the operation of regular evening flight, GoAir will be operating six flights daily from Srinagar airport, including four on Srinagar-Delhi and two on Srinagar-Mumbai sectors. At present as many as 34 flights operate from Srinagar airport daily from 6 am to 7 pm.
The chief minister, felicitating the management of GoAir, expressed hope that more operators will start early morning and late evening flights to and from the airport. She urged the GoAir COO to start late afternoon flight between Srinagar and Jammu as many people, including government officials, regularly travel on this sector.
The chief minister said that the state government is working with various airlines and the Centre to connect Srinagar and Jammu airports with other cities of the country through direct flights and to start international flights from Srinagar airport. She said discussions are also on with various airlines to carry fresh flowers from Srinagar to New Delhi and Mumbai to boost the floriculture sector in Kashmir.
People particularly those connected with tourism sector had been demanding evening and night flights from and to Srinagar and successive state governments had taken up the issue with the union ministries for home and defence on numerous occasions. But certain agencies including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) kept raising objections citing security concerns.
