Srinagar, June 1: The Ministry of Minority Affairs has clarified that temporary baggage arrangements have been put in place for returning Haj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir due to operational restrictions at Srinagar Airport arising from ongoing runway maintenance and aviation safety requirements.
In a statement, the Ministry said that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued for Srinagar Airport, along with temporary runway length restrictions, has led to payload limitations on aircraft operations. The restrictions have necessitated adjustments to baggage handling for Haj return flights to ensure uninterrupted flight schedules and passenger safety.
According to the Ministry, Haj pilgrims travelling on Akasa Air will return to the Srinagar Embarkation Point via Ahmedabad. Under the arrangement, pilgrims will be permitted to carry their full 35 kg check-in baggage allowance from Saudi Arabia to Ahmedabad.
However, owing to payload restrictions on the Ahmedabad–Srinagar sector, only 5 kg of checked baggage per pilgrim will be carried on the flight to Srinagar. The remaining 30 kg baggage will be transported separately by road and delivered to Srinagar.
