Transportation is one of the foundational pillars on which the castle of tourism is established in any region. Transportation, whether land-based, aerial-based, or waterborne, is the cornerstone of tourism in any region and acts as its nerve centre. Tourist destination is usually assessed based on 4 A’s, i.e. Accessibility, Attraction, Accommodation and Amenities. Needless to state, the accessibility to any destination marks the first part of the planning process for any tourist willing to visit a tourist destination.

The most preferred option of transportation for tourists visiting Kashmir has always been airlines, due to its geographical location, hilly terrains and the climatic conditions. The other alternative modes of transportation, like the roadways and railways, have always had their share of hurdles over the past decades. The NH-44 has long been a victim of weather, but has shown improvement in recent years with substantial government interventions. Similarly, the inauguration of the much-awaited railway link -Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Katra by the Hon’ble PM, Shri Narendra Modi on 6th June, 2025 is already bringing relief to the commuters.

With the rise of railway connectivity and upgrades to the NH-44, will the aviation sector catering to Kashmir see a decline? Although there is a section of society which will continue to travel by air even with these newer modes of transportation. The moot question here is whether they will continue to exhibit their loyalty to air travel, considering the self-damage that these airlines are hell bent on doing.

Flying over the snow-capped mountains to Kashmir is a complete experience in itself, and the airlines have this responsibility to ensure that this experience is not meddled with. While flying over the breathtaking Pir Panjal mountains, one can expect turbulence in the air, but should not........

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