Ladakh to get civilian flights to Nubra Valley and Kargil; IAF approves civil terminal construction

Ladakh's air connectivity is set to improve as the government works to upgrade Leh airport and launch civilian flights to Nubra Valley. A decision on opening flight services to Kargil will be made on September 1 after final review. These initiatives were announced by Ladakh's LG V.K. Saxena following a high-level meeting with defence ministry, civil aviation ministry, IAF, and Airports Authority officials in New Delhi.

The Indian Air Force has approved 5 acres of land for constructing a new civil terminal at Thois airport in Nubra Valley. Runway resurfacing work is also underway, targeting completion by November. If timelines are met, civilian operations at Thois could begin by December 2026, utilising and renovating the existing chartered flight terminal.

Expanded air connectivity is expected to boost tourism to border areas including Turtak, Siachen base camp, Kargil, and Dras. Winter closures of the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways make improved air connectivity critical for the region.