Srinagar International Airport | |||||||||||
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 Entrance of the airport as seen from the approaching driveway | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military/Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Indian Air Force | ||||||||||
| Operator | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
| Serves | Srinagar | ||||||||||
| Location | Budgam,Jammu and Kashmir, India | ||||||||||
| Opened | 1979; 46 years ago (1979) | ||||||||||
| Built | 1947; 78 years ago (1947) | ||||||||||
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,655 m / 5,429 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 33°59′13.7″N074°46′27.3″E / 33.987139°N 74.774250°E /33.987139; 74.774250 | ||||||||||
| Website | Srinagar Airport | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  SXR SXR (India) Show map of India | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (April 2024 – March 2025) | |||||||||||
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Srinagar International Airport (IATA:SXR,ICAO:VISR), officially named asSheikh Ul AlamInternational Airport, is aninternational airport servingSrinagar, thesummer capital of the Indianunion territory ofJammu and Kashmir. It is owned by theIndian Air Force , and theAirports Authority of India operates acivil enclave at the airport. The airport is located inBudgam, about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Srinagar. It was designated as an international airport in 2005. It has an integrated domestic and international terminal with oneasphalt runway.
Srinagar airfield was established by theIndian Air Force. During theIndo-Pakistani War of 1947, the airport received anairlift ofIndian army troops to prevent thePakistan army from capturingSrinagar. Although the airport was small and lacked landing aids, the airlift was still carried out successfully on 27 October 1947.[4] In September 1965, the Srinagar Airport was subjected to an air raid amid theIndo-Pakistani War of 1965, which left some aircraft damaged.[5][6]
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.[7]
In 1979, theAirports Authority of India established acivil enclave at the airport.[8] The terminal was modified in February 1998 to be able to handle internationalHajj flights, which started operating from January 2002.[9][10] During theKargil War in 1999, the airport was taken over completely by the Air Force, and civilian flights were stopped.[11]
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 afterSheikh-ul-Alam, the reveredKashmiriSufi saint.[12][13] In 2020, the BJP proposed that the airport be named after MajorSomnath Sharma, the first recipient of India's highest military decoration,Param Vir Chakra.[14]
The airport has an integrated terminal, handling both domestic and international flights. It covers 19,700 m2 (212,000 sq ft) and can serve 950 passengers at a time.[8]
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The terminal is designed on theHimalayan theme and has a sloping roof to facilitate easier removal of snow.[15] The terminal was constructed as a part of a larger expansion project at a cost of₹1.3 billion (US$15 million), initiated by theGovernment of India , and was inaugurated on 14 February 2009.[8][16] There are nine parking bays, with five connected byaerobridges to the terminal.[17][8] In 2019, the authorities planned to construct a newairport terminal handling onlyinternational flights , with domestic flights operating from the older terminal.[18] In September 2021, theAviation Minister announced that the existing terminal will be expanded from the present 25,000 m2 (270,000 sq ft) to 63,000 m2 (680,000 sq ft) at a cost of₹1,500 crore (US$180 million).[19] Other amenities include a food court, food outlets,handicraft shops,ATMs, currency exchanges, andWiFi.[20][17]
There is a singleasphalt runway, 13/31, with dimensions 3,685 by 46 metres (12,090 ft × 151 ft).[21] It has been equipped with aninstrument landing system since February 2011.[15] In August 2018, a test flight was conducted for night landing by theDirectorate General of Civil Aviation.[22][23] On 19 March 2021, commercial night flying operations at the airport started.[24]
In February 2009,Air India Express started weekly flights toDubai, the first regularly scheduled international flight from Srinagar.[8][10] However, due to low demand from passengers, the flights were terminated in January 2010.[25]
The airport is located about 12 km (7.5 mi) from the city of Srinagar.[35]
There is acar park with 250 spaces.[8] The airport is also served by taxis and car rental agencies, which have their booths outside the terminal.[17] Prepaid Taxi services are also available just outside the Srinagar airport arrival.[17]
The government provides a paid bus service between the airport and the tourist reception center nearLal Chowk, while the Airports Authority of India operates a free bus service between the terminal and the airport entrance gate one km (0.62 mi) away.[36]
| Year | Passengers |
|---|---|
| FY 2009-10 | 926,520 |
| FY 2010-11 | 1,039,505 |
| FY 2011-12 | 1,632,098 |
| FY 2012-13 | 1,861,691 |
| FY 2013-14 | 2,003,186 |
| FY 2014-15 | 2,040,808 |
| FY 2015-16 | 2,310,829 |
| FY 2016-17 | 2,101,762 |
| FY 2017-18 | 2,440,467 |
| FY 2018-19 | 2,737,560 |
| FY 2019-20 | 2,820,924 |
| FY 2020-21 | 1,802,904 |
| FY 2021-22 | 3,158,400 |
| FY 2022-23 | 3,426,720 |
| FY 2023-24 | 3,769,392 |
| FY 2024-25 | 4,146,331 |
On 7 September 1965, amid the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, four fighter jets of thePakistan Air Force attacked the Srinagar airport. An Indian Air ForceDouglas C-47 Skytrain and anIndian AirlinesDouglas DC-3 were destroyed during the air raid.[5][38] AChicago Tribune article published the following day reported that one Indian aircraft and aCaribou transport of theUnited Nations observers headquarters were damaged.[6]
Media related toSheikh ul-Alam International Airport at Wikimedia Commons
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