Srinagar Airport Lifts 5 PM Flight Curbs Ahead of Winter Schedule; Evening Operations May Resume
By: News Desk | 19 October 2026
Srinagar: Air travellers heading to and from Kashmir could soon have more flexibility in planning their journeys after Srinagar International Airport withdrew restrictions that had limited flight operations to between 8 am and 5 pm.
The decision, announced ahead of the Winter Schedule 2026, removes the earlier operating-hours cut-off and allows airlines to plan services beyond 5 pm, subject to approved schedules and operational requirements.
The winter schedule comes into effect on October 25. Airport authorities have indicated that airlines are in the process of filing slots for late-evening arrivals and departures, potentially opening up additional travel options for passengers visiting or leaving the Valley.
The development is significant for Kashmir’s travel industry, where air connectivity plays an important role in tourism, business travel and access to essential services. However, the withdrawal of the restriction does not automatically mean that all airlines will operate evening flights from the first day of the winter schedule. Actual services will depend on airline timetables, approved slots and prevailing operational conditions.
Srinagar Airport’s 5 PM Restriction Withdrawn
Srinagar International Airport had been operating within a restricted window of 8 am to 5 pm amid runway maintenance and repair work.
The arrangement reduced the flexibility available to airlines when planning arrivals and departures, particularly for services that would ordinarily operate during the evening.
In its latest communication, the airport authority confirmed that the restriction on operations beyond 5 pm had been withdrawn. Flights can now be planned according to the applicable schedule, subject to operational requirements.
The announcement comes at an important point in the aviation calendar, as airlines prepare to transition to the winter timetable.
The revised operating arrangements are expected to give carriers greater flexibility in organising their services. Whether that translates into more daily flights, additional destinations or more convenient departure times will depend on the schedules airlines ultimately publish.
Evening Flights: What Changes From October 25?
The Winter Schedule 2026 is scheduled to take effect on October 25, and airlines are working on slots for services beyond the earlier 5 pm cut-off.
For passengers, the most immediate potential benefit is a wider range of departure and arrival times.
Travellers who previously had to plan around the restricted operating window may find additional options as airlines introduce or adjust their winter services. Evening flights could also help passengers coordinate connecting journeys, work commitments and hotel check-ins more conveniently.
However, travellers should distinguish between the removal of an airport restriction and confirmation of an individual flight.
An airline must still publish its schedule and secure the necessary operating arrangements. Passengers should therefore check their booking details and the latest flight status rather than assume that a particular evening service is already available.
The change creates the opportunity for expanded operations; the final timetable will determine how much that opportunity benefits individual travellers.
Why Were Flight Operations Restricted?
The reduced operating hours were introduced amid runway maintenance and repair work, which affected the airport’s ability to operate across its usual daily window.
Runway maintenance is an important part of airport infrastructure management. Work must be planned carefully to maintain safety while minimising disruption to scheduled services.
At Srinagar Airport, the restricted hours reduced the time available for airlines to schedule movements. The arrangement also meant that flight planning had to account for the narrower operating window.
Earlier reports indicated that the airport continued handling flights during the restricted period rather than closing completely. A proposal for full runway closure on Mondays and Tuesdays was withdrawn in July, allowing operations to continue throughout the week while restrictions and night-time maintenance arrangements remained in place.
The withdrawal of the 5 pm cut-off marks a further change in the operating arrangements as the airport moves towards its winter timetable.
A Potential Boost for Kashmir Tourism
Air connectivity is a key part of Kashmir’s tourism economy. Visitors travelling to Srinagar depend on flight availability to coordinate accommodation, sightseeing, transport and onward journeys to destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg.
When flight schedules are limited, travellers may have fewer options for arranging their arrival and departure times. Additional evening services could make it easier for some visitors to organise shorter trips or coordinate flights with their wider travel plans.
For hotels, tour operators, taxi providers and other tourism businesses, greater scheduling flexibility may also help with guest arrivals and transfers.
The benefits, however, will depend on the number of services airlines actually introduce and the destinations they serve. The removal of the restriction alone does not establish that passenger numbers or tourist arrivals will immediately increase.
The timing is nevertheless important, with the Valley entering the winter travel season. Kashmir’s snow-covered landscapes, winter activities and mountain destinations attract visitors during the colder months, making reliable air access an important consideration for tourism operators.
What It Means for Passengers Travelling to Kashmir
The revised operating arrangements may offer passengers more flexibility, but checking flight information remains essential.
Travellers should confirm the following before leaving for the airport:
- Departure and arrival times: Check the latest itinerary issued by the airline.
- Evening flight availability: Confirm that the specific service is scheduled to operate beyond 5 pm.
- Flight status: Monitor airline notifications for delays, cancellations or timetable changes.
- Airport transfers: Coordinate taxis and hotel pickups with the confirmed arrival time.
- Weather conditions: Allow for possible disruption during winter, particularly when visibility or other operational conditions deteriorate.
The airport has advised passengers to check the latest flight status and timings with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport.
This remains particularly important during winter, when weather and visibility can affect flight operations even if the airport’s operating-hours restriction has been withdrawn.
Winter Weather Remains an Important Factor
The extension of the available operating window does not remove the weather-related challenges associated with winter aviation in Kashmir.
Fog, reduced visibility, snowfall and adverse weather elsewhere along an aircraft’s route can affect departure and arrival schedules. Depending on the conditions, airlines may need to delay, divert or cancel individual flights.
Operational requirements therefore remain relevant even after the earlier time restriction has been lifted.
Passengers should avoid interpreting the change as a guarantee that flights will operate late into the evening every day. The actual schedule and prevailing conditions will continue to determine which services operate.
For the aviation sector, the challenge will be to make effective use of the expanded operating window while maintaining safety and managing the seasonal demands of the airport.
Travel Planning: JKL Travels and Kashmir Travels
With the winter schedule approaching, visitors planning a trip to Kashmir may wish to review their travel arrangements, including accommodation, local transport and sightseeing plans.
The following travel providers offer information and booking assistance for trips to the Valley. These are promotional resources, not official sources for airport flight schedules.
Plan a Kashmir trip with JKL Travels
Visitors can explore Kashmir tour packages and travel-planning services through JKL Travels, which provides information about holidays in Kashmir and Ladakh.
Explore holiday options with Kashmir Travels
Travellers can also visit Kashmir Travels for information about Kashmir tour packages, hotels, houseboats and sightseeing arrangements.
Passengers should confirm flight timings directly with their airline before finalising airport transfers or other time-sensitive bookings.
What Happens Next?
The next important milestone is October 25, when the Winter Schedule 2026 takes effect.
As airlines finalise their operating slots, passengers will gain a clearer picture of which late-evening services will be available and how the revised arrangements affect their travel options.
For Srinagar Airport, the withdrawal of the 5 pm restriction removes a constraint that had limited scheduling flexibility during the runway maintenance period. For travellers and tourism businesses, the practical benefits will depend on how airlines use the expanded operating window.
The decision is therefore an encouraging development for Kashmir’s air connectivity, particularly ahead of the winter travel season. But the decisive factor for passengers will be the published timetable, not simply the removal of the restriction.
For now, travellers should keep checking airline updates, confirm their individual bookings and plan their journeys around the latest available flight information.
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