The Airports Authority of India (AAI) today said Srinagar International Airport was ready for operation of night flights. “Basically, we are ready, the infrastructure is ready. Since this airport is a civil enclave, it was supposed to be cleared by the Indian Air Force and the IAF has already cleared it for night operations up to 10 pm,” Director, Airports Authority of India, RK Shinde, told reporters here.
Shinde said it was for those airlines, “which are interested in commencing the operations, to take a call. The only thing that they have to obtain is a clearance from the DGCA.” Once the clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is there, night operations from the airport will be started, Shinde added.
A DGCA team is expected to visit the airport this month to take stock of facilities for the night operations.
The Director said after the Pathankot incident, a number of steps have been taken to further strengthen the security like multiple checking of the passengers and secondary ladder-point checking. “This is a hypersensitive airport and that is why since the beginning, we have the J&K Police for anti-hijacking purpose and the CRPF with arms deployed here,” he said.
Srinagar airport ready for night flights; AAI
