In a joint appeal, major Indian carriers including IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India have requested a waiver of user development and aviation security fees at Srinagar airport for a year
The tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a dramatic collapse following the deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam on 22 April, with airlines and hoteliers urging the central government to introduce urgent relief measures to prevent a prolonged crisis.
In a joint appeal, major Indian carriers including IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India have requested a waiver of user development and aviation security fees at Srinagar airport for a year. These charges — currently Rs 1,050 and Rs 200 per passenger, respectively — are included in ticket prices and, operators argue, are deterring potential travellers already anxious in the wake of heightened security concerns.
The Federation of Indian Airlines, in a letter to the government reported by *The Economic Times*, said: “After the Pahalgam incident, tourists are terrified, and no one is travelling to the Kashmir region. There is no demand for air travel to and from Kashmir, and hotels are empty there.” The group stressed that financial aid is as vital as security assurances in rebuilding traveller confidence.
The attack in Pahalgam — which targeted visiting tourists — came during what had been Kashmir’s most active tourist season in 15 years. In the weeks since, Srinagar airport has seen daily passenger traffic more than halved, with airlines reducing operations from 92 flights to just 50 a day.
The hospitality sector, meanwhile, has reported near-zero occupancy despite offering steep discounts of up to 50 per cent — a rare move during peak season.
“This kind of discounting and collapse in footfall has never been seen before,” said Mushtaq Reshi, president of the domestic tour operators’ association in Kashmir and head of the travel firm Essence Holidays. “It is unprecedented.”
The situation has been compounded by military operations that led to the temporary closure of several airports near the border, including Srinagar, injecting further uncertainty into travel plans.
With the crucial summer season now at risk of complete washout, both aviation and tourism stakeholders are calling for more than temporary relief. Industry representatives are pressing for a broader recovery package, aimed at restoring confidence in Kashmir as a safe and attractive destination.
