In the wake of the fatal terror strike in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, top Indian carriers have initiated special procedures for travelers stuck in Srinagar. SpiceJet and Air India extended flexibility for departures to/from Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport (SXR), as the security forces cordon off the area to search for the attackers.
Major Airline Initiatives:
Fee Waivers: No cancellation/rescheduling fee until July 15 for all Srinagar-bound tickets booked prior to July 10
Priority Rebooking: Attack-hit passengers assured seats on the next available flights
Special Departures: Air India operating 2 additional A320 flights from Delhi to ferry tourists
24/7 Helplines: Exclusive numbers for families of victims (SpiceJet: +91-124-4983410)
Ground Reality in Srinagar:
• Airport operating under NSG protection with multi-layer security checks
• Hotel associations providing free extended stays to stranded tourists
• Jammu-Srinagar highway convoys operating with armed escorts
Expert Analysis:
“This is the most extensive airline response since the 2019 Pulwama attack,” said aviation analyst Ameya Joshi, pointing out how:
– Waivers are applicable even for non-refundable tickets
– Airlines coordinating with MHA for passenger manifests
– Gulf carriers such as FlyDubai keeping situation under watch for international connections
Passenger Advisory:
1. Bring original ID + attack-related police reports (if any) for fee waivers
2. Anticipate 4+ hour security processing at SXR
3. Refrain from night road travel to Jammu
Global Impact:
• UAE sends Kashmir travel alert to GCC expats
• UK Foreign Office revising advisories
• MakeMyTrip halting new Kashmir bookings until July 20
