Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, May 9: For the third consecutive day, the authorities have decided to close three airports including Srinagar International Airport till May 14 amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, disrupting flight operations, including the Haj pilgrimage schedule from the Valley.
The Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee has now cancelled the tomorrow’s May 10 flight, extending the uncertainty for hundreds of pilgrims.
In an official notification, the committee announced the cancellation of Flight No. SG-5210, originally scheduled for Saturday.
“Due to the prevailing situation, the flight has been cancelled. A revised schedule will be communicated accordingly,” the notification read.
“So far, four Haj flights and over 250 commercial flights have been cancelled since May 7, including 84 on Friday alone, with 42 arrivals and 42 departures, an official at Srinagar International Airport said. He added they are yet to confirm when normal operations will resume.
Meanwhile, Dr. Shujhat Ahmad Qureshi, Executive Officer of the J&K Haj Committee said, “We are in touch with all concerned agencies, but as of now, the situation remains unchanged and uncertain. Pilgrims and their families are requested to remain patient until we receive clearance for rescheduling.”
Meanwhile, major airlines have extended flight suspensions and issued fresh advisories.
IndiGo Travel Advisory: “Your safety and security remain paramount. Due to the current situation, all flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Rajkot are cancelled. We are monitoring the situation closely and are in continuous coordination with all authorities.
They also wrote: “we will keep you informed through official updates and are available to support you with changes to your travel plans. Thank you for your understanding and patience.”
SpiceJet Travel Advisory:“Important Travel Update: Due to the ongoing situation, our flights to and from Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Dharamshala, Kandla and Amritsar are cancelled. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may cause to our valued passengers and appreciate your understanding.
Akasa Air Advisory: Akasa Air has suspended all flights to and from Srinagar until further notice and is offering passengers full refunds or free rescheduling. “We regret the inconvenience caused and are closely monitoring the situation,” the airline stated.
Other airlines, including Vistara and Go First, are also expected to issue updated advisories shortly. Passengers are urged to regularly check their flight status through airline websites or customer service helplines and avoid unnecessary travel to the airport.
Meanwhile, the authorities have decided to close the airports across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh till May 14.
