SRINAGAR: The Airport Authority of India plans to suspend operations at the Srinagar airport for 16 days in October for runway maintenance and other repairs, raising concerns among tour operators who fear the shutdown will deal a blow to the industry, which is still reeling from the Pahalgam attack during last year’s Durga Puja holiday season, when large numbers of Bengali tourists visit Jammu and Kashmir.The Air Force, which operates the airfield, has proposed a phased maintenance program between July 1 and September 30, when services will be closed every Monday and Tuesday, culminating in a complete shutdown from October 1-16, an AAI official said. The official said an advisory was issued on the instructions of the Civil Aviation Ministry.The Kashmir Valley traditionally sees a huge influx of tourists from Bengal during October, when most schools and colleges remain closed during the Durga Puja festival.Travel operators and industry stakeholders fear that the shutdown will lead to mass cancellations and huge financial losses to the economy that is still recovering from the impact of Pahalgam. Stakeholders expressed concerns over the timing and appealed to the government and AAI to reconsider the programme.Hotelier Asif Burja said that upgrading the airport is important, but the facility should not be closed completely. “Efforts should be made to minimize the inconvenience,” Burja, who owns properties at tourist destinations in the Valley, told PTI.He said the frequency of flights should be increased to compensate for the losses. He also demanded higher frequency for the newly launched trains.Farooq Kuthu, president of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, said tourists are wary of the disruption and cancellations are already happening. “We are already receiving such queries,” he told PTI. We appeal to the government to review it seriously.” His union termed the move as ‘unfortunate’ and ‘inappropriate’.Nasir Shah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, said that if upgrading of the airport runway was necessary, the runway of Awantipora airport, located about an hour’s drive from Srinagar, should be put into service as an alternative.Hospitality and travel stakeholders said cutting air connectivity during the busy domestic tourism block could devastate the local economy.However, Srinagar airport officials said the program is still in the planning stage. “As soon as the schedule is formally approved, detailed updates will be shared through official channels,” according to a post on the airport’s X handle.The last such maintenance exercise was conducted in 2011. (With inputs from PTI)