A modern ₹80-crore terminal was built at this desert-tourism airport, but for years it sat almost entirely idle — SpiceJet withdrew flights for lack of demand and GoAir/IndiGo declined to start any, leaving conveyor belts gathering dust with zero scheduled commercial traffic through much of the 2010s. Even after traffic finally picked up (2.4 lakh passengers in the 2025-26 winter season), the airport still closes every year for roughly six months, most recently from March 29, 2026, stranding tourism operators each time.
On record
The official record states: "Airlines cited insufficient off-season passenger demand to sustain year-round operations; a 2015 aviation analyst suggested "if that too doesn't work, it's better to lock up the airport and redeploy staff.""
Filed as "Seasonal ghost infrastructure" and dated to Terminal built 2013, this entry sits under the "₹80 crore (terminal building)" line of the public accounts.
What to expect
- A terminal built for a passenger rush that never boarded.
- A departures board with more staff than flights, most days none of either.
- A conveyor belt kept in working order out of sheer optimism.
- A runway whose length remains a subject of expert disagreement.
Sourcing
2 public sources — news reports, RTI replies and civic archives — corroborate this entry. The citation trail is listed below for anyone who would like to follow up with the department concerned.
“Everyone signed off. No one signed on.”— Blunderlust Editorial Desk
Sources
- https://www.thequint.com/news/india/in-pictures-jaisalmers-ghost-airport-a-rs-80-cr-white-elephant
- https://www.etvbharat.com/en/state/civil-flight-services-temporarily-suspended-for-next-six-months-on-jaisalmer-airport-enn26032902588
Visitor reviews
“Came here instead of the museum and regret nothing. The scaffolding has been up long enough to vote.”
“Found it by following a group of equally confused tourists. There is a hashtag, a mascot and a stalled crane.”
“Visited after an argument about whether it actually existed. It peaked at the ribbon-cutting and has coasted since.”