In a setback to direct air connectivity between Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, IndiGo Airlines has suspended its direct flight service between Lucknow and Srinagar just 35 days after its launch. The airline has cited low passenger demand as the reason for halting operations and will reassess the route’s viability by June.
The abrupt suspension comes in the wake of a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which has triggered widespread security concerns among travellers. Officials familiar with the development said that following the attack, there has been a noticeable drop in the number of passengers opting to travel to Srinagar, leading to poor flight bookings and financial unsustainability on this route.
“When the service was first introduced, the response from travelers was very encouraging. Most flights were operating at nearly full capacity,” said an airport official on condition of anonymity. “However, the Pahalgam attack seems to have rattled public sentiment. Bookings started falling sharply within days.”
The airline, in a brief statement, confirmed that the Lucknow-Srinagar route has been “temporarily suspended” and added that a detailed review will be conducted by June. “If the passenger demand does not improve, the suspension may become permanent,” the statement noted.
The recent terror attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in south Kashmir, involved a targeted strike on tourists and sent shockwaves across the region, especially among tourists and stakeholders in the travel industry. Though authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have since tightened security and assured safe conditions for tourists, the incident has clearly impacted traveler confidence.
Travel agents and tourism industry representatives in both Lucknow and Srinagar are disappointed by the development. “The direct flight was a huge boost for tourism between the two regions,” said Rahul Bhatnagar, a Lucknow-based travel consultant. “It cut down travel time and encouraged people to explore Kashmir. But after the attack, many of our clients began cancelling their trips.”
With summer holidays approaching and Kashmir usually witnessing a rise in tourist activity during this period, stakeholders are hopeful that the situation may improve if peace is maintained and tourists regain their confidence.
The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department had also welcomed the launch of the direct flight, seeing it as a gateway for increased tourism and business exchange. Now, officials are reportedly in touch with IndiGo and aviation authorities to explore ways to revive the service if conditions stabilise.
For now, travelers from Lucknow will have to rely on connecting flights via Delhi or other hubs to reach Srinagar, making travel less convenient and more time-consuming.