Flights to Srinagar: Govt-Airlines at loggerheads

Srinagar: While the Jammu and Kashmir government is still in the process of “exploring options” of flights arrival to Srinagar, the commercial airlines have begun to cancel the tickets they had booked from September 1 to 12—the period during which the Srinagar ‘International’ Airport is closing on account of runway repairs.
Informed sources said the airlines including Kingfisher, Jet Airways, GoAir, SpiceJet and Indigo Thursday cancelled the booked tickets, asking the customers to “take the money back” from their offices. The tickets’ cancellation has perturbed hundreds of people, including the Non-Resident Kashmiris, who intended to visit the Valley to observe Eid-ul-Fitr with their families.
Sources said the state government has to explore the options with the Defence Ministry, if it means business. While reports suggested that the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has taken up the matter with the Defence Minister, AK Antony, there is no response from the Ministry yet.
Amid indecision, the airlines have reportedly made it clear that they won’t be shifting to the Awantipora air-base as “it lacked even the basic facilities like terminal building and security paraphernalia.” The state is asking the airlines to operate from the air-base temporarily.
26/08/10 Faheem Aslam/Greater Kashmir

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Categories: airports aug 2010