AAI to extend Jammu airport runway for larger aircraft operations

New Delhi: The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has decided to extend the runway at Jammu airport from 6000 ft. to about 9000 ft, which will render it capable of handling Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800 type of aircraft. The decision was taken at a joint meeting between J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and the union minister of civil aviation, Praful Patel.

The meeting was attended by a host of officials, including those from the AAI.

Jammu has seen an unprecedented growth in aircraft movement, which has gone up from 36 per week in 2004-05 to the current figure of 168 per week. This growth has made it necessary to expand the terminal building to cope with the traffic growth, expand the apron to accommodate more aircraft and to extend the runway in order to cater to bigger aircraft, the statement said.

Plans are also being finalized to improve and modify the terminal building for better space utilization to meet the needs of growing number of airline operators and passengers and also a separate administrative complex.