Srinagar International Airport

Srinagar International Airport
سری نگر بین الاقوامی ہوائی اڈا
Srī Nagar Bain al-Aqvāmī Havā'ī Aḍā

The terminal in 2011
IATA: SXR – ICAO: VISR
Summary
Airport type Military/Public
Owner Indian Air Force
Operator Airports Authority of India and Indian Air Force
Serves Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Elevation AMSL 1,655 m / 5,429 ft
Coordinates 33°59′13.7″N 074°46′27.3″E / 33.987139°N 74.774250°E / 33.987139; 74.774250Coordinates: 33°59′13.7″N 074°46′27.3″E / 33.987139°N 74.774250°E / 33.987139; 74.774250
Map
SXR
SXR
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
13/31 3,685 12,090 Asphalt
Statistics (2015)
Passengers 2,155,597
Aircraft movements 15,122
Cargo tonnage 4,782

Srinagar International Airport (IATA: SXR, ICAO: VISR) is an international airport that serves Srinagar, a city in the Indian state 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. Designated an international airport in 2005, the Srinagar airport does not receive scheduled international flights as of November 2016 but has seen Hajj flights. It has an integrated terminal and one asphalt runway. The airport has bus and taxi service to the city of Srinagar, which lies 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to the north.

History

Originally, the Srinagar airport was used only by the Indian Air Force. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, the airport received an airlift of Indian troops who prevented Pakistan from capturing the city of Srinagar. Although the airport was small and lacked landing aids, the airlift was still carried out successfully on 27 October.[1] In September 1965, the Srinagar airport was subjected to an air raid amid the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, which left some aircraft damaged.[2][3]

In 1979, the Airports Authority of India established a civil enclave at the airport.[4] The terminal was modified in February 1998 to be able to handle international Hajj flights,[5] which first started operating from Srinagar in January 2002.[6] During the Kargil War in 1999, the airport was taken over completely by the Air Force, and civilian flights were prohibited from landing.[7]

In March 2005, the airport was granted international status by the Indian government. An expanded terminal, able to serve both domestic and international flights, was inaugurated on 14 February 2009 by politician Sonia Gandhi.[4] It was part of a larger expansion project that also included an increase in the number of parking stands from four to nine.[8] The total cost of the project was ₹130 crore (US$19 million), fully provided by the Indian government.[4] On the same day, Air India Express started once weekly flights to Dubai, the first regularly scheduled international flights from Srinagar.[4][6] However, due to low demand from passengers, the flights were terminated in January 2010.[9]

Infrastructure

The Srinagar airport has an integrated terminal, handling both domestic and international flights. It covers 19,700 square metres (212,000 sq ft) and can serve 950 passengers at a time: 500 domestic and 450 international passengers.[4] The terminal is designed to look like the Himalayas and has a sloping roof that facilitates snow removal.[10] Amenities include a restaurant, a handicrafts shop, ATMs, currency exchange, a chocolates shop, and 30 minutes of complimentary WiFi.[11]

There is a single asphalt runway, 13/31, with dimensions 3,685 by 46 metres (12,090 ft × 151 ft).[12] It has been equipped to handle instrument landing system approaches since February 2011.[10]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Air India Delhi, Goa, Jammu, Leh, Mumbai
GoAir Delhi, Jammu, Mumbai
IndiGo Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Jammu, Mumbai
Jet Airways Delhi
SpiceJetAmritsar, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa,[13] Jammu, Mumbai
VistaraDelhi, Goa, Jammu

Statistics

In 2015, 2,155,597 passengers transited through the Srinagar airport.[14] In addition, there were 15,122 aircraft movements,[lower-alpha 1][16] and the airport handled 4,782 tonnes of cargo.[17]

Accidents and incidents

Access

The airport is located about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the city of Srinagar.[19] There is a car park with 250 spaces.[4] The government provides a paid bus service between the airport and the Tourist Resource Centre near Lal Chowk, while the Airports Authority of India operates a free bus service between the terminal and the airport entrance gate 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) away.[20] The airport is also served by taxis and car rental agencies, which have their booths outside the terminal.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ An aircraft movement is defined as a take-off or a landing.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Ray, Jayanta (2011). India's Foreign Relations, 1947–2007. New Delhi: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-59742-5.
  2. 1 2 "ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-47 (DC-3) registration unknown Srinagar Airport (SXR)". Aviation Safety Network. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Indian Army opens 2d front: Troops in drive for Hyderabad and Karachi". Chicago Tribune. 8 September 1965. p. 4. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "New integrated terminal building at Srinagar International Airport to be inaugurated today". Oneindia. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "International status for Srinagar airport". The Tribune. Chandigarh. 27 January 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Sonia flags-off Srinagar-Dubai flight". Oneindia. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "World: South Asia India launches Kashmir air attack". BBC News. 26 May 1999. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Ahmad, Mukhtar (14 February 2009). "Sonia Gandhi inaugurates Srinagar international airport". Rediff.com. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  9. ↑ Aslam, Faheem (19 May 2010). "Dubai flight grounded, permanently". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  10. 1 2 Bhujang, Vaibhav (May 2014). "Kashmir: Paradise on Earth" (PDF). Today's Traveller. New Delhi: Gill India Group. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Srinagar: Passenger information". Airports Authority of India. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "Srinagar -- VISR". DAFIF. October 2006. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "SpiceJet flight schedule". Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  14. ↑ Traffic news for the month of January 2015: Annexure III (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 9 March 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 27 November 2016. January 2015: 114,194 passengers
  15. ↑ "Glossary and references" (PDF). Greater Toronto Airports Authority. December 2007. p. 2. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  16. ↑ Traffic news for the month of January 2015: Annexure II (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 9 March 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 27 November 2016. January 2015: 848 aircraft movements
  17. ↑ Traffic news for the month of January 2015: Annexure IV (PDF). Airports Authority of India (Report). 9 March 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 27 November 2016. January 2015: 346 tonnes
  18. ↑ "ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-3 registration unknown Srinagar Airport (SXR)". Aviation Safety Network. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  19. ↑ "Srinagar: General information". Airports Authority of India. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  20. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)" (PDF). Airports Authority of India. Retrieved 24 November 2016.

External links

Media related to Srinagar International Airport at Wikimedia Commons

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