The Indian Air Force (IAF) has proposed to close the Jammu Airport for 15 days next month for runway repairs.
However, the proposal has been opposed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and airlines, an official said.
Jammu region has only one commercial airport – at Satwari, Jammu district.
“Indian Air Force has proposed complete closure of runway at Jammu Airport for 15 days from March 5 for laying DAC layers on runway surface,” reads a communication of Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Pardeep Singh Kharola which has sought intervention of Ministry of Defence to request IAF to carry out runway surfacing work during night hours without hampering civil flight operations – a practice which is generally adopted by AAI for all resurfacing work.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has already requested the IAF headquarters to plan and execute the proposed work of runway surfacing during night time so that civil aircraft operations are not hampered, an official quoting official communications told the Greater Kashmir.
A senior official said that they have also raised the issue with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam so that the runway is not completely closed and flight operations continue during the day time.
The matter has also been taken up with the Secretary Defence, Government of India, the official said.
“The carpeting work on the runway is already underway for the last 8 months, and to lay final 3 layers the IAF has insisted on us to shut the commercial flight operations completely for 15 days which is not possible,” the official said.
He claimed that the IAF has given notices to all the airlines asking them that no flight will operate from March 5 to March 20.
In view of this development, the official said: “Some airlines have closed their bookings.”
He said that they can reduce flights, but complete closing of the airport will adversely affect the economy and tourism.
“In the event of closure of Jammu Airport for 15 days, air traffic would have to be diverted to the nearest civil airport in Punjab which would result in various logistical issues,” the official said.
At least 17 civil flights operate from Jammu Airport daily with connectivity to Ahmedabad, Delhi, Leh, Mumbai and Srinagar. These flights are likely to go up with further reduction in restrictions imposed on flight operations to contain spread of covid virus, the official told the Greater Kashmir.