About Shimla Airport Jubbarhatti (SLV): Flights, Distance & Facilities

This airport helps travellers reach Shimla faster with a flight to Shimla as compared to long road journeys. Even though flight options are limited the airport is very important for tourism and regional connectivity. It acts as a safe air entry point to the Queen of Hills while following strict safety rules due to terrain challenges.

Shimla Airport has official identification codes that are used worldwide in aviation.

Airport Name: Shimla Airport / Jubbarhatti Airport and the IATA Code of this airport is SLV and the ICAO Code is VISM. This airport is owned as well as operate by the Airports Authority of India

The Airports Authority of India manages all airport activities which include passenger safety, terminal management, runway operations and security checks. Since the airport handles only domestic flights there are no customs or immigration counters and all operations follow Indian aviation rules along with international safety standards.

Shimla Airport is located in Jubbarhatti, Himachal Pradesh, India. The airport is about 22 kilometers away from Shimla city and most travellers take 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach the city from and to the airport.

The airport is surrounded by hills and forests and it is built on a tabletop mountain surface with an elevation of the airport is 5,072 feet above sea level. This high altitude creates challenges for aircraft because engines work harder and planes need more distance to take off.

Due to this reason, pilots must be specially trained for hill operations with weather like fog, rain and snowfall can affect visibility and this is the main reason why flights are sometimes delayed or cancelled.

Shimla Airport has only 1 runway with a length of 1,230 meters. This runway was made by cutting and levelling the mountain land because hills surround the airport and extending the runway further is very difficult.

Due to runway length and high elevation, only small aircraft are allowed whereas large planes like Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 cannot operate
Aircraft must fly with limited passengers and baggage while flights depend heavily on weather conditions

And because of all these limits, safety is always given priority over flight frequency.

Shimla Airport has 1 single terminal building and it handles both arrivals and departures as this terminal at the Shimla airport is designed for regional travel and not for heavy passenger traffic.

Passenger handling capacity is only about 40 - 50 at the same time for both departure and arrival at the airport

Because the airport is small in size so passengers can move quickly from entry to check-in then security and boarding

Shimla Airport operates only domestic flights as International flights are not allowed due to infrastructure and operational limits.

Current and past connectivity connect flight from Shimla to Delhi, Chandigarh, Amritsar and Dharamshala as these are the only and important routes to fShimla Airport has a unique aviation history because only a few airlines can operate here.

Earlier operations included:

• Kingfisher Airlines was earlier operating daily flight from Delhi to Shimla with a passenger limit upto 28 and this service was stopped in 2012 after the complete ban of Kingfisher.

Current operations include:

• Alliance Air is currently operating as the main airline serving Shimla Airport that connects some major cities of India with this airport. The partial operation was started in 27 April 2017 and fully resumed in  26 September 2022 

Helicopter services are also important like Pawan Hans helicopters which is used for government travel, emergency services and special connectivity and this is helpful during roadblock situations

Even though Shimla Airport is small it provides essential facilities to passengers.

Available facilities include:

• Baggage trolleys for easy luggage movement
• Mandatory baggage screening for safety
• CCTV surveillance for security
• Lost and Found assistance through airport authority
• Response usually provided within one week

With basic waiting areas with seating, small food and snack counters with limited access lounge for selected passengers and free Wi Fi service and mobile charging points are also available.

Because this is a domestic airport duty-free shops are not available.

Public transport options are limited near Shimla Airport.

Main travel options include:

• Taxis and private cabs which are the most used there is no direct airport bus service or metro connectivity

Nearby transport points are

• Nearest bus stand at Jubbarhatti Bus Stand which is about 17.2 kilometers away from the airport and the nearest railway station is Jatogh Railway Station at 13.4 kilometres

Because roads are hilly and weather sensitive as most travellers prefer pre-booked taxis for safe and comfortable travel.

Shimla Airport helps people travel to Shimla in a faster and easier way. Flights are limited but the airport is very useful for tourists local people and work travel. The airport follows safety rules and plans more improvements in the future. This will help more travellers reach Shimla safely.

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