IAF notice on runway hits Jammu flights

DGCA sources said only two flights of Air India could land through the day at Jammu where flights land and take off from sunrise to sunset

There was massive chaos on flight sectors to and from Jammu on Friday after the Indian Air Force — which runs the Jammu airport — issued a notice to airmen ( NOTAM) on reduction of the pavement classification number of the runway surface at the airport from 35 to 24, making it virtually impossible for airlines to operate heavier aircraft with high passenger load to and from Jammu.

As many as 16 flights of private carriers were cancelled to and from Jammu and 2,500 passengers were subjected to enormous inconvenience. The DelhiJammu flight sector was badly hit too. Aviation regulator DGCA then took up the matter with the government, following which the IAF cancelled the NOTAM.

DGCA sources said only two flights of Air India ( A- 320s with eightwheels that ensures distribution of weight of the aircraft on the runway) could land through the day at Jammu where flights land and take off from sunrise to sunset.

DGCA sources said the IAF’s ( now- cancelled) NOTAM was issued on October 7 and was meant to be effec- tive from October 14 to January 14. DGCA sources said the airlines had been informed only on Thursday evening about the NOTAM though IAF sources had earlier said that stakeholders had been made aware of the NOTAM earlier.

DGCA sources said that with the fuel requirements for aircraft to fly to Jammu, the calculated payload that aircraft could carry under the NOTAM meant that flights of most carriers could not operate to Jammu. One flight of a low- cost carrier took off from Delhi for Jammu but was diverted to Srinagar.

There were also complaints from passengers that airlines did not provide them meals or accommodation despite the flight cancellations but DGCA sources said the airlines were not required to do so since the flight cancellations were due to factors beyond their control.

Normalcy is expected to return from Saturday since the IAF has withdrawn the NOTAM.