Civil flight operations at four Indian Air Force-controlled airports will face phased shutdowns and operational restrictions this year as authorities undertake planned runway recarpeting and infrastructure upgrades. Jodhpur, Srinagar, Pune and Adampur, all joint-use facilities handling both military and civilian flights, will be affected under different timelines.
The first major disruption will begin at Jodhpur airport, where civilian flight operations are set to be suspended for nearly a month between March 29 and April 29. A Notice to Airmen has already been issued, and airlines including IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express have stopped accepting bookings beyond March 28.
Phased recarpeting to reshape operations at Jodhpur
Jodhpur airport currently handles 28 daily flight movements, with passenger traffic ranging between 4,000 and 4,300 per day as of March 1. The runway recarpeting work, expected to conclude by May, will be carried out in three phases to manage disruption.
In the first phase, approximately one-third of the runway will be closed. This will allow continued operations of aircraft such as the Airbus A320, although larger aircraft like the Airbus A321 may not be able to operate due to reduced runway length. The second phase will involve a complete shutdown as work shifts to the central section of the runway. Once this is completed, the final phase will allow partial resumption of operations as work moves to the remaining section.
Airlines have already adjusted schedules in response. Passengers booked on affected routes have been given the option to shift travel dates, reroute to nearby airports, or opt for full refunds.
Strategic and technical demands behind the upgrade
The maintenance is driven by the operational demands of these airbases, which serve both civilian and military functions. Runways at such facilities must meet the stricter technical requirements of fighter jets and other military aircraft, making periodic upgrades essential.
Jodhpur and Adampur hold particular strategic importance due to their proximity to the Pakistan border. Adampur airbase in Punjab, which played a significant role during Operation Sindoor and was recently reviewed by the IAF chief for operational preparedness, is scheduled for runway work after November. While no immediate disruption is expected, the airport could face restrictions for several months, with estimates suggesting closures may extend up to eight months.
Srinagar to see extended closures, Awantipur may serve as backup
Srinagar airport will undergo a prolonged maintenance cycle later in the year. Civil flights are expected to remain suspended on weekends for around 11 weeks from August 1 to October 15. This will be followed by a complete shutdown lasting 21 days from October 16 to November 5.
During this period, airlines may be given the option to temporarily operate from the nearby Awantipur airbase, located approximately 25 kilometres from Srinagar. The facility has previously handled civil operations during similar disruptions.
Pune closure timeline under review
Pune airport is also slated for runway upgrades, with a proposed closure period of around eight days. The work was earlier expected in April, but the schedule is currently under review. The airport last underwent a full runway shutdown in October 2021, when operations were suspended for 14 days for resurfacing work.
Advance planning, but peak season disruption likely
Authorities have planned these closures well in advance through the government’s slot coordination process, which typically begins around six months before maintenance. These meetings involve the ministry of civil aviation, the IAF, the Airports Authority of India and airline representatives, ensuring that carriers do not schedule flights during closure periods. Formal Notices to Airmen are then issued to notify airlines and pilots.
Despite this planning, the disruptions are expected to coincide with peak summer travel demand, when domestic passenger traffic rises sharply due to school vacations. For airlines, this means adjusting schedules, redeploying aircraft and managing potential revenue losses. For passengers, it could translate into limited availability, rerouting and last-minute changes.
As the upgrade cycle unfolds across these critical airbases, the ripple effects are likely to extend well beyond the four airports, testing both airline networks and passenger flexibility.
