New Delhi: In a major relief to travelers, 32 airports across northern and western India have reopened for civilian flight operations following a temporary closure due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), along with other aviation authorities, issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing the resumption of services with immediate effect. The airports, including key hubs like Srinagar, Amritsar, and Chandigarh, had been closed from May 9 to May 15, 2025, as a precautionary measure in response to the heightened cross-border conflict.
The AAI released a statement urging passengers to confirm their flight status directly with airlines and monitor official airline websites for real-time updates. Chandigarh Airport confirmed that flights to and from Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport resumed at 10:30 AM on May 12, 2025. This development follows the ceasefire announcement by both India and Pakistan on Saturday, which led to the first peaceful night in Jammu & Kashmir and along the International Border since India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had previously announced the suspension of civilian flights at 32 airports due to operational and security concerns. These included major and minor airports such as Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Bhuj, Bathinda, and Kullu Manali, among others. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier appealed for the reopening of airports, especially Srinagar, citing a pressing backlog of haj pilgrims awaiting departure.
The list of affected airports comprised Adampur, Ambala, Amritsar, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bhuj, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Halwara, Hindon, Jaisalmer, Jammu, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Kandla, Kangra (Gaggal), Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu Manali (Bhuntar), Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Sarsawa, Shimla, Srinagar, Thoise, and Uttarlai.
The reopening of these airports is expected to ease travel disruptions significantly and comes as a hopeful sign of de-escalation between the two nations.
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