From half-empty airport lounges to stranded apple exporters, Srinagar’s connectivity crisis is threatening Kashmir’s fragile tourism and horticulture economy
By: Javid Amin | 30 September 2025
The Silent Lounges at Srinagar Airport
On a crisp September morning, Srinagar International Airport—usually abuzz with tourists dragging suitcases and families waving goodbye—looked eerily subdued. Check-in counters had no queues, departure lounges stood half-empty, and only a handful of cabs waited outside the terminal.
The numbers confirm what the silence suggested. On April 22, 2025, a day before the Pahalgam terror attack, the airport handled 102 flights carrying 19,140 passengers. Just five months later, on September 28, traffic had halved—only 50 flights operated, carrying 8,822 passengers.
The breakdown is stark:
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April 22 → 51 arrivals (9,235 passengers) & 51 departures (9,905 passengers)
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September 28 → 25 arrivals (4,265 passengers) & 25 departures (4,557 passengers)
A 51% dip in flights. A 54% crash in passengers. For an economy like Kashmir’s—where every tourist, trader, or transit passenger supports a chain of livelihoods—these numbers spell more than lost business. They signal a deeper crisis of trust.
The Shock After Pahalgam
The April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam, which killed 25 tourists and a pony operator, sent shockwaves through Kashmir’s fragile tourism sector. The Valley had just begun to recover from pandemic lows and political turbulence when the attack shattered confidence.
Almost immediately, cancellations flooded in. Airlines slashed schedules. Tour operators reported clients scrapping trips weeks in advance. Even pilgrims to Vaishno Devi, who usually combine their journey with a Srinagar visit, began avoiding the Valley.
The perception of Kashmir as “unsafe” returned overnight. As one senior tourism official admitted:
“Numbers don’t lie. The half-empty lounges and reduced schedules are proof that we are in damage-control mode. It will take time, and trust, to undo this slump.”
From 100 Flights to 50 – The Numbers Don’t Lie
Air connectivity is one of the most sensitive indicators of demand. Airlines rarely reduce flights unless compelled by economics. By halving Srinagar schedules, carriers have made their assessment clear: demand has collapsed.
A senior civil aviation executive explained bluntly:
“A 50% reduction in flights within a short span mirrors the demand crash. Airlines cannot operate at losses; low load factors have forced consolidation on Srinagar routes.”
Srinagar, unlike metro hubs, is a point-to-point market. Most passengers fly in for tourism, business, or horticulture-linked trade. With cancellations sweeping through, airlines preferred to redeploy aircraft to profitable routes.
The Domino Effect on Tourism
The impact was immediate. In Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, and Srinagar, hotel occupancy plummeted below 20%, forcing some properties to temporarily shut down. Houseboats on Dal Lake reported their quietest season in decades.
Tour guides, pony operators, and transport unions—who rely heavily on autumn arrivals—found themselves idle. The ripple effect touched everyone: artisans selling papier-mâché crafts, shawl weavers in downtown Srinagar, saffron sellers in Pampore, and apple growers hoping to export produce via passenger-cargo holds.
A hotelier on Boulevard Road summed it up:
“We’ve never seen it this bad—not even during the peak unrest years. At least then, there was hope of recovery after protests. This slump feels endless.”
Collateral Damage – Beyond Tourism
The aviation slump is not just a tourism story. It has rippled across multiple sectors:
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Handicrafts: Without tourists, artisans lose direct buyers. Exporters also struggle as limited flights reduce cargo capacity.
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Road Transport: Taxi unions report lowest ridership in recent memory. Bus operators on Srinagar–Jammu routes see empty seats.
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Horticulture: Reduced belly cargo in passenger aircraft has hurt apple and cherry exporters, already grappling with NH-44 blockades.
Economists estimate that every cancelled flight costs the Valley crores in lost transactions—from hotel bookings and local transport to handicraft sales and agricultural shipments.
Airlines’ Perspective – Why They Cut Flights
Airlines insist the decision is pragmatic, not political. With average seat occupancy falling below 50%, routes became commercially unviable. Aviation fuel prices, high altitude operational costs, and Srinagar’s limited connectivity as a hub made it impossible to sustain empty flights.
Unlike Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru, Srinagar does not generate significant connecting traffic. Few international tourists arrive via Srinagar directly. Thus, airlines rely almost entirely on domestic leisure demand—a sector deeply vulnerable to perception shifts.
Autumn That Never Came
Autumn is usually Kashmir’s “second season.” Chinar leaves turn crimson, temperatures cool, and domestic tourists arrive for festive holidays. This year, however, the “golden season” is turning grey.
Travel agents report 80% fewer bookings compared to 2024. Honeymooners who traditionally flock in October have opted for Himachal, Uttarakhand, or foreign destinations like Bali. The symbolic “postcard autumn” of Kashmir is being witnessed by locals alone.
A Comparative Lens – Lessons from Abroad
Kashmir is not the first tourist region hit by a terror strike. Others have bounced back with smart strategy:
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Nepal (2015 earthquake): Slashed visa fees, ran “Nepal is Safe” campaigns, and engaged mountaineering celebrities.
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Sri Lanka (2019 Easter bombings): Offered hotel subsidies, invited international bloggers, and restored flights with government guarantees.
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Bali (2002 attacks): Promoted cultural festivals, offered discounted packages, and rebranded quickly.
In contrast, Kashmir’s approach has been piecemeal. Campaigns are launched but not followed through. Destinations like Yusmarg, Doodhpathri, and Betab Valley remain closed to visitors, undermining promotional slogans.
Government’s Damage Control – Too Little, Too Late?
The J&K Tourism Department has launched international roadshows and advertising campaigns, but industry insiders say the messaging lacks credibility. Connectivity, not campaigns, is the real challenge.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has repeatedly called on the industry to publicly back government efforts. Yet hoteliers and travel bodies remain muted, accusing the government of ignoring ground realities like highway closures and restricted access to popular spots.
A travel entrepreneur put it bluntly:
“We need more than slogans. We need access, clarity, and confidence. Otherwise, no campaign will convince tourists.”
Industry Voices – Frustration on the Ground
The frustration is palpable:
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Hoteliers: “We cannot pay salaries at 20% occupancy. Relief packages are essential.”
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Taxi Union Leader: “Our cabs are parked more than they are running. EMI payments are piling up.”
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Apple Grower: “We were told to export apples via air. But with fewer flights, space is gone, and costs are unaffordable.”
These voices underline that the crisis is not abstract—it is deeply personal.
The Human Angle – Stories Behind Numbers
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Shabir Ahmad, Tour Guide: Bookings vanished after April. He is now working as a shop assistant.
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Nasreen, Houseboat Owner: With zero foreign clients, she has rented rooms at half price to local families.
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Bilal, Hotel Manager in Gulmarg: Forced to lay off 12 of his 30 staff members.
These stories echo across Kashmir, where entire families depend on tourism-linked incomes.
Policy Prescriptions – What Needs Fixing
Experts outline a three-tiered strategy:
Short-Term
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Subsidize airlines to maintain minimum connectivity.
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Offer relief packages for hotels, houseboats, and transport unions.
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Introduce MSP for apples and freight subsidies for horticultural cargo.
Medium-Term
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Reopen restricted tourist zones with calibrated security.
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Develop alternative road corridors to reduce NH-44 dependency.
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Revive international charter flights from the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
Long-Term
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Diversify Kashmir’s economy beyond tourism dependency.
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Build resilient infrastructure (all-weather roads, tunnels).
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Institutionalize crisis-management playbooks, learning from global models.
Bottom-Line – Half the Flights, Half the Confidence
The collapse of flights at Srinagar airport is more than a statistic—it is a metaphor for Kashmir’s fragility. In just five months, the Valley’s fragile confidence in tourism, trade, and mobility has halved, much like its flight schedules.
Unless the government, industry, and civil society act decisively to restore connectivity and trust, Kashmir risks deeper economic isolation.
For now, the empty lounges of Srinagar airport tell a sobering story: half the flights, half the passengers, and half the hope.
