Flight operations set to resume from Srinagar airport on May 4

Srinagar: Flight operations at Srinagar International Airport are likely to resume from May 4 when the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ends.

On March 23, Union Ministry for Civil Aviation suspended all national and international flight operations to contain the spread of coronavirus. However, only cargo and other flights approved by DGCA were allowed to operate.

Hoping lockdown will end on May 3, airline companies have started making bookings..

A cursory look at the airline companies’ websites suggests that the flight operation at Srinagar airport will finally resume from May 4.

Currently, all the airline companies and ticket portals are selling tickets from Srinagar to all other domestic destinations in the country.

Airliners have slashed prices of tickets by nearly 40 percent to attract passengers.

Airfare for Srinagar to New Delhi for May 4 is Rs 1900. Normally the fare from Delhi to Srinagar during May hovers between Rs 4000 to 5000. The fare from Delhi to Srinagar is below Rs 5000.

Similarly, the airfare for other destinations including Mumbai has also been reduced by more than 30 percent. An air ticket from Srinagar to Mumbai for May 4 costs Rs 3500. Similarly, the Mumbai-Srinagar ticket is priced at Rs 4500- 5000.

An official said the air ticket counter at Srinagar airport is likely to function before May 4. “A social distancing will be followed by the employees of the airline companies. All arrangements will be made to ensure that the customers don’t come in close contact with each other,” he said.

Director Airport Authority of India, Srinagar, Santosh Dhoke told The Kashmir Monitor that the restriction in the flight operation as per Centre’s guidelines is valid till May 3.

“As per the Centre government’s guidelines, the flight operation should resume on May 4. Airline companies have also started bookings. So far only cargo flights are operating from Srinagar airport,” Dhoke added.