Jammu Airport begins consultations for international flight operations
Stakeholders met on Saturday to discuss feasibility, passenger demand, and potential destinations for launching international flights from the airport.
Jammu Airport has started consultations with various stakeholders to evaluate the feasibility of launching international flight operations, an official said on Sunday. According to The Tribune, a planning and coordination meeting was held on Saturday to discuss the roadmap for enhancing global air connectivity.
Airport Director Devender Yadav chaired the meeting, which included representatives from airlines, security agencies, regulatory bodies, and tourism organisations. The discussions covered potential international destinations, passenger demand, air cargo prospects, and operational requirements.
Yadav stated that the existing terminal building would be used for international operations once domestic flights are moved to the new terminal building, as per the airport's master plan. He also noted that Jammu Airport has been included under the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Hub-and-Spoke Model.
Rahul Sahai, Chairman of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Jammu Chamber, said international sectors should be commercially viable and supported by consistent operations. He suggested prioritising connectivity to West Asia, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Europe due to demand from Umrah travel, pilgrimage, and international education.
Rajesh Gupta, Chairman of the Tourism Federation of Jammu, said the initiative could boost the tourism sector and facilitate trade. The meeting also examined requirements for immigration, customs, security, and infrastructure, including coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF).