New Delhi: In the wake of India’s retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), air travel across northern and western India has been severely impacted. More than 200 flights have been cancelled, and at least 18 airports—including Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Jodhpur, and Chandigarh—have been temporarily shut due to operational and security concerns. The missile strikes came in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, including 25 tourists, lost their lives.
Major domestic carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express, as well as some foreign airlines, announced widespread cancellations. Passengers were advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport and were offered options for refunds or alternate flights. Air India suspended flights to and from nine airports until the early hours of May 10, while IndiGo cancelled over 165 flights across 11 key airports, citing government restrictions on airspace. SpiceJet and Akasa Air also issued similar advisories, with regional airline Star Air cancelling operations in select locations.
International airlines have not been spared the disruption. Qatar Airways suspended flights to Pakistan due to the closure of Pakistani airspace. Other Asian carriers, including Taiwan’s EVA Air, Korea’s Korean Air, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and China Airlines, have either rerouted or cancelled several Europe-bound flights. Many were forced to take longer detours over Myanmar, Bangladesh, or India, with some aircraft making technical stops to refuel or switch crews.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and airport authorities remain on high alert, with the Srinagar Airport suspending all civil flight operations until further notice. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has also seen at least 35 flight cancellations since midnight, with authorities attributing the disruptions to rapidly changing airspace conditions.
As tensions continue to escalate between India and Pakistan, airline services are expected to remain erratic in the affected zones. Passengers are strongly advised to stay updated through official airline channels and prepare for potential delays or cancellations in the coming days.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
