Ladakh’s Thoise, Kargil airports set for civilian flight operations

Ladakh Moves to Launch Civilian Flights from Thoise and Kargil Airports

Ladakh is taking steps to expand its air connectivity beyond the sole commercial airport at Leh, with civilian flight operations targeted to begin from Thoise Airport in Nubra Valley by December, according to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. The announcement came after a meeting he chaired with officials from the Ministry of Defence, Indian Air Force, Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Ladakh administration at Ladakh Bhavan in New Delhi.

At the meeting, the Indian Air Force approved the allotment of five acres of land for a new civil terminal at Thoise, while runway recarpeting is underway with a November completion deadline. Saxena said the target is to commence civilian operations by December from the existing chartered flight terminal at Thoise, after refurbishing it.

For Kargil, which currently has an airstrip used for defence operations, a joint inspection is scheduled for September 1 with the Indian Air Force, Airports Authority of India, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in the presence of the lieutenant governor, to assess readiness for civilian operations.

Saxena said the flight operations would fulfill the prime minister's vision of boosting connectivity and inclusive development in the Union Territory, and would help unlock tourism potential in border areas like Nubra, Turtuk, Drass, and Kargil. He emphasized the need for time-bound operationalization, noting that commercial flights would provide greater accessibility to residents and support tourism and local economic activity.

The initiative follows a meeting chaired by Saxena at Ladakh Bhavan in New Delhi, attended by officials from the defence ministry, Indian Air Force, Airports Authority of India, and the Ladakh administration. During the meeting, the Indian Air Force approved the allotment of five acres of land for a new civil terminal at Thoise, and runway recarpeting is expected to be completed by November, with a target for commercial operations starting in December from a refurbished old chartered flight terminal.

For Kargil, a joint inspection is scheduled for September 1, involving the Indian Air Force, Airports Authority of India, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to assess the existing airstrip's readiness for civilian operations. The airstrip has been used for defence purposes.

Saxena said the flight operations would "fulfill the Prime Minister's vision of boosting the region's connectivity and inclusive development of UT Ladakh, and further unlock the immense tourism potential in border areas like Turtuk, Siachen Base Camp, Kargil and Drass." Officials said the commercial flights are expected to provide greater accessibility for residents of Nubra and support tourism and local economic activity.

Earlier, in March, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil chief executive councillor Mohd Jaffar Akhoon and Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to request civilian flights from Kargil, proposing small aircraft operations as an interim step.