GoAir, the Wadia Group low-cost airline, officially announced the completion of trials for night flight operations to Srinagar International Airport. With this significant development, officials at the Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport (SXR) aka Srinagar Airport are expecting final approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for enabling flight operations during the night hours. DGCA is expected to approve the development as early as next week.
“Today the GoAir started its trial flight for Night Flight Operations from Srinagar Airport to Delhi and it was a successful one and for tomorrow Indigo Airlines is also likely to follow the same,” said Srinagar Airport Director Santosh Dhoke.
Dhoke also said the authorities at Srinagar Airport are expecting final approval from DGCA next week. “The DGCA is expected to give final approval to night flight operations from Srinagar airport next week,” he said, reports Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The Air Safety teams of airlines- IndiGo and GoAir reached Srinagar on March 18 and conducted trials runs. After the successful trials, the Air Safety team submitted the report to DGCA, seeking permission for running passenger flights during nights. The trial run was conducted by GoAir between New Delhi and Srinagar International Airport.
Apart from GoAir and IndiGo, other airlines like SpiceJet, Vistara, Air India and AirAsia are expected to conduct trials in the coming days starting today. As of this writing, the first flight lands in Srinagar International Airport at 7:25 AM every day, whereas the last flight arrives at 5:05 PM. The operational hours of SXR are 6 AM to 6 PM. Opening night flights will boost tourism in the Srinagar region, say the airport officials.
