Jammu Airport Records Major Capacity And Infrastructure Expansion

Jammu Airport has seen major infrastructure and capacity expansion over the past 12 years, including upgrades to passenger handling, runways, cargo facilities and security, the director said. The new terminal is about 60 per cent complete and is due for commissioning by the end of the year, which will nearly double capacity to five million (mn) passengers per annum. Operated jointly by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF), the airport will observe Yatri Suvidha Diwas on June 15 with passenger programmes and community outreach.\n\nThe director said passenger handling has risen from one million in 2014 to two point six mn at present. Terminal area expanded from 7,000 square metres to 14,500 square metres and the new terminal should raise total area to around 40,000 square metres. Aircraft parking increased from seven to 13 stands for A321 aircraft and Runway 36 was extended by about 1,300 feet in 2021 to enable Airbus A321 operations.\n\nLanding systems are being upgraded to CAT?II to improve low?visibility operations. Aerobridges were introduced in 2017, rising from none to three and planned to reach six with the new terminal. Other works include a domestic cargo terminal, a dedicated helicopter parking stand with link taxiway and a rooftop solar plant of 400 kilowatt (kW) capacity. Security measures installed in 2024 include an Under Vehicle Surveillance System and an Integrated Perimeter Security System.\n\nAir connectivity has expanded with direct flights to major destinations and helicopter services to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, while passenger?centric initiatives such as DigiYatra, free Wi?Fi and assistance for specially?abled travellers have improved the experience. The current terminal capacity of two point six mn compares with traffic last year of around one point five mn, leaving spare capacity to absorb travellers affected by disruptions elsewhere. The proposed civil airport at Udhampur is planned under the Government of India's UDAN scheme to boost regional connectivity.

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