Srinagar, Jan 05: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) expresses deep concern over the massive flight disruptions that have plagued Srinagar International Airport over the past three days, resulting in numerous cancellations and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
This crisis has been precipitated by the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) continued failure to install the promised upgraded Instrument Landing System (ILS), which would enable safe flight operations even in low visibility conditions, said KCCI in a statement.
The widespread cancellations have severely impacted thousands of travellers, including international tourists, Umrah pilgrims, business travellers, students returning to educational institutions, and patients travelling for medical treatment. Many passengers have missed their connecting flights at major hubs, leading to cascading disruptions in their travel plans and significant financial losses.
This situation was entirely preventable. KCCI has repeatedly highlighted the urgent need for modern navigation equipment at our airport. Despite multiple assurances from AAI and several missed deadlines, we still operate with outdated systems that leave our air connectivity at the mercy of weather conditions.
The impact on our business community and the general public has been severe. The tourism industry, a crucial sector of our economy, has faced significant losses during what should be a peak travel period. International business travellers have missed crucial meetings, while local businesses have faced significant losses due to delayed shipments and cancelled business travel.
KCCI demands immediate action from AAI to install the required modern ILS and upgrade the airport’s infrastructure to current international standards. The continued neglect of our airport’s infrastructural needs is unacceptable for a region that serves as a major tourist destination and business hub. This situation requires immediate intervention to prevent further economic losses and public inconvenience, the statement reads.
