Srinagar, May 18: All J&K Hajj Umrah Tour Operators’ Association today accused the Civil Aviation Ministry of not allowing extended flight operations at Srinagar International Airport (SIA).

 Association president Nissar Ahmad Wani said the “low” flight frequency at the SIA had made the Srinagar-Delhi-Srinagar air travel hectic and inconvenient. He said the low flight frequency was causing inconvenience to the passengers in general and business community in particular.

 He said the Delhi-bound flights depart from the SIA up to 12 noon only, while the flights from Delhi to Srinagar arrive here up to 2:45 PM only. “For the rest of the day no flight operates on this route, putting the common passengers and business people to a lot of inconvenience,” he said.

 Wani was speaking at a meeting which among others was attended by the members of the association who expressed concern over the “low” frequency of the flights.

 The members said even as the airport had been elevated to international rank, “yet there has been no improvement in domestic flight frequency not to talk of international flight operations.”

 “Allowing flight operations for a limited time during the day only is a mockery,” they said, adding that unlike SIA, airports in India particularly in Hyderabad, Bangalore, etc, were allowing the flight operations for extended periods during day and up to 11 at night.

 The members alleged that the Civil Aviation Ministry was discriminating against SIA. “We fail to understand why there are double standards being adopted by the Ministry which allows flight operations for extended hours and till late in the night at outside airports and curtails the flight movement in SIA.”

 “The entire business community is dismayed by the inadequate frequency of flights at SIA,” the members. 

 Meanwhile, the association has appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up the issue with the Civil Aviation Ministry to get approval for domestic flight operations at least up to 7 PM at SIA. 

 “Allowing flight operations up to 7 PM will not only save the time of passengers but also make the air travel meaningful and convenient from Srinagar to Delhi and back. 

 The meeting was also attended by New Traders Association, Srinagar, Federation Chamber of Small Scale Industries and People’s Voice, Srinagar.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 IST