Srinagar airport expected to reopen Friday, September 17th, 2010

Srinagar (Kashmir), September 15 - Srinagar airport will reopen to civilian flights on Friday, it was announced here today.

The airport was closed to flights September 3rd 2010 for repairs that is being completed in 'record time', an official here said.

The flights to Srinagar had to be diverted to the Avantipora Air Force Base (about 30 km from Srinagar in Kashmir) but on September 12th, these were suspended for three days because of the situation in the Kashmir Valley, with the authorities saying that it would be difficult to provide security to passengers and others.