Post-Pahalgam attack, air traffic nosedives at Srinagar

Nearly two months after the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent tensions between India and Pakistan, passenger traffic at Srinagar International Airport remains significantly low—at just 30-40% of the levels seen prior to the April attack, officials told The Tribune.

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On April 21, a day before the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the airport had recorded 104 flights (arrivals and departures combined) and close to 20,000 passengers.

However, tourism—one of the primary drivers of air traffic in the region—took a major hit following the attack. The situation worsened after India launched retaliatory strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan, escalating bilateral tensions and triggering a further decline in tourist arrivals. Airlines subsequently cancelled several flights due to reduced demand.

Srinagar International Airport Director Javed Anjum confirmed that current passenger traffic stands at just 30-40% of what it was before April 22. “Presently, the traffic is not that much. On average, we have around 22-25 flights (44-50 both sides) operating daily,” he said.

On Tuesday, airport authorities reported 24 arrivals and 24 departures—totaling 48 flights. Around 4,000 passengers arrived, while over 3,500 departed. In comparison, on June 2, the airport saw 28 flight pairs (56 total) and approximately 7,800 passengers.

By contrast, on April 21—the day before the Pahalgam attack—the airport handled 52 flights each way (104 in total) and recorded 19,641 passengers.

“Currently, the number of arrivals and departures is nearly the same,” said Anjum.

Following the April 22 attack, the airport remained closed for some time. On May 7, civil flight operations were suspended until further notice. Services resumed on May 13.

An airport official noted that while flight slots are available, airlines are hesitant to add flights due to poor demand. “We had over 50+ arrivals earlier. But demand has dropped, which is why several flights have been cancelled,” the official said.

Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector had witnessed a significant boom in recent years. However, the impact of the Pahalgam attack has been severe, particularly in the tourism and civil aviation sectors. The drop in flights at Srinagar Airport is now a visible consequence of that downturn.

Last month, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledged the decline in tourist arrivals and attributed it to the Pahalgam attack and related incidents. He said the government’s immediate priority is to ensure a peaceful and incident-free Amarnath Yatra, which begins on July 3.