Authorities at Jammu Airport have initiated discussions to connect the city with international flight routes, aiming to cater to the growing demands of religious tourism, business activity, education, and the region’s diaspora.
To explore the feasibility of the proposal, airport officials held a high-level meeting involving representatives from government departments, commercial airlines, security agencies, and the business and tourism sectors. Participants discussed potential flight routes, passenger demand, and operational requirements.
Chairing the meeting on Saturday, Airport Director Devinder Yadav discussed a proposal to utilize the existing terminal for international flight operations once domestic flights are shifted to a new terminal. Yadav noted that this transition could create pathways for dedicated international arrangements, subject to necessary infrastructure development and regulatory clearances.
Highlighting the region’s profile, Yadav pointed out that Jammu’s strategic and geographic importance, combined with religious tourism, educational institutions, commercial activities, and movement linked to the defense sector, strengthens the case for international connectivity. He added that under the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s “Hub and Spoke” model, Jammu Airport has been designated as a spoke airport.
Rahul Sahai, Chairman of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the selection of viable routes with steady passenger traffic to ensure long-term service sustainability by airlines. He pointed to potential routes connecting the region to the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Europe, noting strong demand for Umrah pilgrimage, religious tourism, and outbound students pursuing higher education.
Rajesh Gupta, Chairman of the Tourism Federation of Jammu, stated that launching international flights would significantly boost local tourism and trade.
The consultative meeting was attended by representatives from commercial airlines, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Intelligence Bureau, Customs, the health department, ground handling agencies, and civil aviation and tourism departments.