Jodhpur airport will resume civil flight operations from Tuesday, April 28, after being closed for nearly a month due to runway repair work. The first flight, an IndiGo service from Bengaluru, is scheduled to arrive at 8:45 am.
Airport Director Confirms Restoration of Connectivity
Airport director Manoj Uniyal stated that connectivity with multiple cities will be restored, allowing passengers to access regular services once again. The airport was shut for commercial flights from March 29 at 6:30 pm to April 27 at 6:30 pm following a Notice to Air Missions issued by the Indian Air Force for runway re-carpeting. During this period, all civil flight operations remained suspended.
Joint-Use Facility Requires Periodic Maintenance
The Jodhpur airport is a joint-use facility where both military and civilian aircraft operate on the same runway, making periodic maintenance essential. The runway repair work is being carried out in three phases. The first phase, from March 1 to March 28, involved re-carpeting at one end of the runway and did not require flight suspension. The second phase, from March 29 to April 27, covered the central portion of the runway, leading to a complete shutdown of civil operations. The third phase will run from April 28 to May 17, during which flights will operate from one end of the runway.
Summer Schedule: Nine Flights to Six Cities
As per the summer schedule of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, there will be nine flights to six cities from Jodhpur: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Hyderabad. There will be two daily flights to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, and one flight to the remaining cities. Airlines including IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express will operate services. However, flights to Jaipur and Indore will not run during this period.
Jaisalmer Airport Begins Summer Operations
In a related development, Jaisalmer airport will begin operations for the summer season for the first time this year. From May 3, Alliance Air will operate a Jaisalmer-Jaipur flight, providing improved connectivity for passengers travelling in the region.
Strategic Importance of Jodhpur Airport
The Jodhpur airport holds strategic importance due to its proximity to the international border and its role as a defence airport managed by the Indian Air Force.
