Despite test run, night flights yet to take off at Srinagar airport

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 23

It has been over 40 days, but the Srinagar International Airport has failed to launch the night flight operations even after a successful test run on August 10.

The airport authorities say everything is ready on the ground to start the night flights but the airlines concerned are yet to submit their proposals for starting the flights.

“The Airports Authority of India is ready with the infrastructure needed to start the operations. The state government is also ready. The night flight operations have been delayed only because the airlines concerned are yet to submit their programmes/proposals,” Director, Srinagar International Airport, Akash Deep told The Tribune.

He said all arrangements and logistics, including the lights, had been installed to handle the night flights.

In all, 38 domestic flights operate in and out from the airport daily. The airlines which have opted for the night flight slots are GoAir, IndiGo and Air India.

The Srinagar airport was “technically” cleared for night operations after the first night landing and take-off of a commercial aircraft on August 10. The test flight was carried out to assess the feasibility and allied issues pertaining to the landing of the aircraft during the night.

Following the clearance, the authorities in Srinagar were looking for a date anytime after August 15 to formally begin the night operations, however, the much-awaited facility has been delayed for unknown reasons.

Asked the reason behind the delay by the airlines, the airport director said: “The delay is on the part of the airlines. They have to plan.”

He said the Airports Authority of India was interested in starting the night flight operations as soon as possible.