The commercial flights at Jodhpur Airport are going to remain completely suspended for almost a month as the Indian Air Force (IAF) issued a NOTAM announcing significant work for runway resurfacing.
According to this notification, this closure would be in effect from 6:30 PM on March 29 to 6:30 PM on April 27, which would affect air connectivity to and from this city in the state of Rajasthan.
Indian Defence Research Wing
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had already confirmed that this airport functions as a civil enclave, where the runway is owned and operated by the IAF. As a result, all technical and operational decisions regarding runway maintenance fall under the Air Force’s jurisdiction.
What is a NOTAM?
A NOTAM is a formal notification referred to as a ‘Notice to Airmen,’ which is sent to pilots, airlines, and aviation authorities to convey vital information regarding air operations. The notification may include information on maintenance activities, hazards, or temporary restrictions.
Runway re-carpeting after seven years
The upcoming work marks the first major resurfacing of Jodhpur Airport’s runway in approximately seven years. Although the initial phase was scheduled to begin on March 1, it did not commence as planned.
The IAF has now confirmed that the resurfacing will proceed in phases, with the final stage expected to be completed by May.Read more: “People talk about civic sense”: Viral video shows littered train coach; class 10 students on Manali trip reportedly responsible, sparks debate
Three-phase construction plan
The runway upgrade will be executed in three stages:Phase One: Around one-third of the runway will be closed. During this period, small aircraft such as the Airbus A320 may be able to operate, but large aircraft such as the A321 will not be able to operate due to a lack of runway length.Phase Two: This is the most critical period in which repair will take place on the central part of the runway.
The runway will be fully closed, resulting in a complete halt in all civil flight operations. Phase Three: Work will still be in progress on the remaining part of the runway, allowing for a partial resumption of flight operations.
Joint use facility and strategic importance
Jodhpur airport is a joint user facility since both military and civil aircraft use the same runway. This is because the technical requirements of military aircraft, especially fighter jets, are much stricter than those of civilian planes.The strategic position of this airport close to the western border of India adds to its significance, and this is why the IAF has chosen to prioritize this over the needs of civilians.Read more: Watch: Olive Ridley hatchlings were just seen at Puri beach—here’s why it matter
Airlines suspend bookings, flights cancelled
Currently, Jodhpur is connected to seven major cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad, with around 14 daily flights (28 movements). As per the NOTAM, IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express have stopped booking flights after March 28.The closure will affect the travel plans of thousands of passengers and put the city in a state of temporary isolation.
Summer schedule impacted
Typically, airlines roll out their summer schedules starting March 31. However, due to the airport shutdown, Jodhpur’s summer schedule will only take effect from April 28. Even then, flight frequency is expected to drop significantly, with services to two or three destinations likely to be discontinued and overall operations reduced by nearly half. This is seen as a setback for Jodhpur’s aviation network, particularly during a peak travel period.
Similar closures planned at other airports
Jodhpur is not the only airport affected by runway upgrades at IAF-operated facilities. Srinagar airport is likely to shut down completely for a period of three weeks in October 2026, whereas Pune airport might be shut down for a period of eight days. However, the dates for these shutdowns are yet to be confirmed. Adampur airport is likely to experience similar shutdowns.These shutdowns are a common challenge faced by airports that are shared by both the military and civilians.
