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Jammu and Kashmir is a union territory of India. It is well connected to the other regions of India. The airports are used either commercially, privately, or for military purposes. The major airports of Jammu and Kashmir are Srinagar Airport and Jammu Airport.
Srinagar Airport
Srinagar Airport is an international airport. It is located in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The owner of the airport is the Indian Air Force. It is a military airbase as well as a civil airport. The Airports Authority of India operates the civil enclave at the airport. Domestic flights are operated from Srinagar Airport across the country. International flights, like Hajj flights, are operated by Air India.
Earlier, the Srinagar airport was only used for military purposes. Later in 1979, a civil enclave was established at the airport by the Airports Authority of India. The International Hajj flights from Srinagar Airport were first operated in January 2002. In March 2005, the Indian government granted international status to the Srinagar Airport. The airport is also known as Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport. The airport is elevated at the height of 1,655 metres above average sea level.
The terminal building of the Srinagar Airport covers an area of 19,700 square metres. It resembles the shape of the Himalayas. The sloping roof helps in the easy removal of snow. The airport can handle five hundred domestic passengers and four hundred fifty international passengers at a time. It has an asphalt runway of 3,685 metres long. The Srinagar Airport also facilitates night landing.
Jammu Airport
Jammu Airport is a domestic airport. It serves flights only within India. The official name of the Jammu Airport is Jammu Civil Enclave. Satwari Airport is another name for the Jammu Airport. It is located in the city of Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is a military as well as a civil airport. The airport is elevated at the height of 314 metres above average sea level. The Jammu Airport is owned by the Indian Air Force and is operated by the Airports Authority of India. Satwari Airport is another name for the Jammu Airport. Airliners like Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Go Air operate flights from the Jammu Airport.
The terminal building of the Jammu Airport extends to an area of 14,500 square metres. It has an asphalt runway of 2,438 metres long. The airport facilitates night landing. The Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has announced a new terminal for this airport. The proposed terminal will cover an area of 45,000 square metres.
The apron of this airport is large enough to park three Boeing 737 and three Airbus A320 aircraft. The car parking area can accommodate 80 cars.
Airports in Kashmir
There are a few small airports in Kashmir and Jammu. Awantipora Air Force Station and Udhampur Air Force Station are the airports used for only defensive purposes. These are operated by the Indian Air Force.
The Awantipora Air Force station is located in the town of Awantipora in the Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir. It has a concrete runway of 3,200 metres. The airport is elevated at the height of 1,644 metres above average sea level.
The Udhampur Air Force Station is located in the district of Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir. It has a concrete runway of 2,743 metres. The Indian Air Force’s No. 153 Helicopter Unit is based at this airport. The airport is elevated at the height of 630 metres above average sea level.
Kishtwar Airstrip is a military as well as a civil airport. It is located in the district of Kishtwar of Jammu And Kashmir. The airport is elevated at the height of 1,585 metres above average sea level. By the UDAN scheme, the airstrip has been proposed to develop a runway of 1,200 metres over an area of 20 acres of land.
Rajouri Airport is located in the city of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a small airport operated by the Indian Air force. Only helicopter service is available here.
Conclusion
The two major airports of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir are Jammu Airport and Srinagar Airport. The Srinagar Airport is the only international airport present in the state. The two airports are well connected with other parts of India. They have regular commercial flights to Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and other major cities of the country. As per the fourth round of the UDAN scheme, a regional air connectivity programme, eleven airports have been put for bidding. The eleven regional airports of Jammu and Kashmir are Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Panzgam, Miran Sahib, Jhangar, Gurex, Fukche, Chusal, Chamb, Akhnoor. The regional air connectivity scheme will also expand the tourism sector.
