The recent terror attack on April 22 in Kashmir’s Pahalgam has caused a sudden drop in air traffic at Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar. After the attack, in which 26 tourists were killed, the passenger traffic arriving and leaving the airport dropped drastically. This has impacted the tourism and transportation sector in the region immensely.
Despite attempts by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ramp up flight frequencies and evacuation possibilities, the travel downturn indicates increased security concerns and political tensions and, on top of that, limitations on airspace between India and Pakistan.
The destiny of air traffic in the region is unpredictable, highly subject to ongoing security updates and diplomatic ties.
Impact on Air Traffic
Air traffic at Srinagar airport was fairly steady prior to the Pahalgam terror attack. On April 21, the airport saw 19,641 passengers arrive and leave on 104 flights. This showed a busy day, reflecting the area’s increasing tourism. Within nine days, though, passenger traffic declined to 8,827, representing a 22% drop.
On April 30, the air traffic report saw 4,341 arrive and 3,886 depart on 82 flights. This sudden drop mirrors a decline in travel demand, largely driven by security concerns in the aftermath of the attack.
Increasing Demand for Evacuations
Following the attack, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) called on airlines to introduce extra flights to enable stranded tourists to return home. Airlines heeded the call by introducing extra flights.
Nevertheless, arrivals of passengers were still very low. On April 25, 24 passengers arrived on four additional flights, while 794 passengers traveled out. The pattern was the same in the subsequent days with very low arrival figures, reflecting tourists’ hesitation to travel for fear of security.
Security Concerns and Political Implications
After the attack, security was heightened by the authorities to protect tourists and civilians. Still, the incident has also had political implications. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan strained air traffic even more.
After India blamed Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism, Pakistan shut out Indian airlines from its airspace. India retaliated by excluding Pakistani airlines from its airspace. This has caused fewer flight options and less travel between the two countries.
Future of Air Traffic
Declining passenger traffic at Srinagar airport may be a short-term phenomenon, but the long-term impact on tourism is open to question. Kashmir’s tourism sector, already impacted by security issues, now also has an added disadvantage in terms of lowered air connectivity. Whether air travel in the region takes off depends much on how soon political tensions are resolved and security is restored.
Air traffic revival at Srinagar airport will depend upon the overall security and political situation. It could take some time for tourists and airlines to build up confidence, though additional flights have been added.
