Srinagar AFS

Srinagar International Airport, also known as Sheikh Ul Alam International Airport, serves Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The airport is owned by the Indian Air Force, with the Airports Authority of India operating a civil enclave. It was established by the Indian Air Force in 1947. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, the airport facilitated an airlift of Indian army troops. In September 1965, it was subjected to an air raid during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, resulting in damage to some aircraft. From the 1950s to the 1970s, Srinagar Airfield developed into a frontline base for the Indian Air Force, hosting various fighter squadrons, including Vampires, Gnats, and Hunters, for combat air patrols and counter-air missions during Indo-Pakistani conflicts. It saw activity during the 1965 and 1971 wars, including intercepts, close air support, and radar-guided air defense. Its proximity to the Line of Control established it as a military asset. In 1979, the Airports Authority of India established a civil enclave. During the Kargil War in 1999, the Air Force took full control, halting civilian flights. In March 2005, it received international airport status. In May 2025, the airport was subjected to drone attacks, which were repelled by air defense, leading to a temporary halt in civil operations. The airport has an integrated domestic and international terminal and a single asphalt runway (13/31).