Heavy Snowfall Grounds 22 Flights at Srinagar Airport, Stranding Passengers.

Heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions severely impacted air travel in Kashmir on Friday. Srinagar International Airport (SXR) reported 22 flight cancellations for the day. This decision affected both arriving and departing aircraft. Officials deemed the runway unsafe for operations due to snow accumulation.

Operational Impact and Airline Response

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) operates the civil enclave at SXR. They confirmed the full suspension of flight operations. The primary goal was ensuring passenger safety.

Major domestic carriers were affected by the closure. Airlines like IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet serve the airport. IndiGo issued a travel advisory to passengers. The airline confirmed that take-offs and landings were on hold. They also advised customers to check their flight status. Affected passengers were offered rebooking or full refunds.

Challenges of Winter Operations

Srinagar Airport is located at a high elevation. Winter weather poses a constant challenge to operations. The airport has an upgraded Instrument Landing System (ILS) Category II. This system helps aircraft land in low visibility conditions. However, heavy snow accumulation directly on the runway forces a complete shutdown.

This weather event highlights the fragility of connectivity in the Kashmir valley. The disruption was not limited to air travel. The vital Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was also closed. This closure cut off the main road link. It left travellers with few alternative transport options.

Regulatory and Passenger Recourse

Cancellations due to severe weather are considered Force Majeure events. This means they are beyond the airline's control. Therefore, airlines are typically not liable for cash compensation. However, they must still follow the rules set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

DGCA guidelines require airlines to offer passengers options. These include a full refund or re-booking on an alternative flight. The regulator consistently emphasizes that safety must take precedence over schedule adherence. The AAI and airlines are closely monitoring the weather. Operations will resume only once the runway is cleared and declared safe.

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