Srinagar Airport

Srinagar International Airport, officially named as Sheikh Ul Alam 'International Airport', is an international airport serving Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is owned by the Indian Air Force, and the Airports Authority of India operates a civil enclave at the airport. The airport is located in Budgam, about south of Srinagar. It was designated as an international airport in 2005. It has an integrated domestic and international terminal with one asphalt runway.

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History

Srinagar airfield was established by the Indian Air Force. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, the airport received an airlift of Indian army troops to prevent the Pakistan army from capturing Srinagar. Although the airport was small and lacked landing aids, the airlift was still carried out successfully on 27 October 1947. In September 1965, the Srinagar Airport was subjected to an air raid amid the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, which left some aircraft damaged.
During the 1950s to 1970s, Srinagar Airfield evolved into one of the most critical frontline bases of the Indian Air Force. It housed multiple fighter squadrons at various times, including Vampires, Gnats, and Hunters, serving as a launchpad for combat air patrols and counter-air missions during the Indo-Pakistani conflicts. The base saw intense activity during the 1965 and 1971 wars, including intercepts, close air support, and the deployment of radar-guided air defence. Srinagar’s proximity to the Line of Control made it a vital asset in both deterrence and wartime operations.
In 1979, the Airports Authority of India established a civil enclave at the airport. The terminal was modified in February 1998 to be able to handle international Hajj flights, which started operating from January 2002. During the Kargil War in 1999, the airport was taken over completely by the Air Force, and civilian flights were stopped.
In March 2005, the airport was granted international status by the Indian government. In 2015, the state government renamed the airport as Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport after Sheikh-ul-Alam, the revered Kashmiri Sufi saint. In 2020, the BJP proposed that the airport be named after Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of India's highest military decoration, Param Vir Chakra.
During the military face off between India and Pakistan in May 2025, Srinagar Airport was subjected to drone attacks by Pakistan but the attacks were repelled by air defence. The airport remained shut for civil operations for nearly a week due to heightened tensions between the two neighbours.

Infrastructure

Terminal

The airport has an integrated terminal, handling both domestic and international flights. It covers and can serve 950 passengers at a time. The terminal is designed on the Himalayan theme and has a sloping roof to facilitate easier removal of snow. The terminal was constructed as a part of a larger expansion project at a cost of, initiated by the Government of India, and was inaugurated on 14 February 2009. There are nine parking bays, with five connected by aerobridges to the terminal. In 2019, the authorities planned to construct a new airport terminal handling only international flights, with domestic flights operating from the older terminal. In September 2021, the Aviation Minister announced that the existing terminal will be expanded from the present to at a cost of. Other amenities include a food court, food outlets, handicraft shops, ATMs, currency exchanges, and WiFi.

Runway

There is a single asphalt runway, 13/31, with dimensions. It has been equipped with an instrument landing system since February 2011. In August 2018, a test flight was conducted for night landing by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. On 19 March 2021, commercial night flying operations at the airport started.

Airlines and destinations

In February 2009, Air India Express started weekly flights to Dubai, the first regularly scheduled international flight from Srinagar. However, due to low demand from passengers, the flights were terminated in January 2010.

Access

The airport is located about from the city of Srinagar.

Vehicle

There is a car park with 250 spaces. The airport is also served by taxis and car rental agencies, which have their booths outside the terminal. Prepaid Taxi services are also available just outside the Srinagar airport arrival.

Bus Service

The government provides a paid bus service between the airport and the tourist reception center near Lal Chowk, while the Airports Authority of India operates a free bus service between the terminal and the airport entrance gate away.

Notable accidents and incidents

On 7 September 1965, amid the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, four fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force attacked the Srinagar airport. An Indian Air Force Douglas C-47 Skytrain and an Indian Airlines Douglas DC-3 were destroyed during the air raid. A Chicago Tribune article published the following day reported that one Indian aircraft and a Caribou transport of the United Nations observers headquarters were damaged.