18 Indian airports to remain shut till May 10 post Op Sindoor

Air travel across northern and western India was severely disrupted on Wednesday after over 200 flights were canceled, and 18 airports temporarily suspended operations. This disruption followed targeted missile strikes launched by the Indian armed forces early in the morning on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes, part of an operation named "Operation Sindoor," were a direct response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people. The operation led to the closure of several airports in the affected regions.

The airports affected by the closure include major ones in Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, Pathankot, Chandigarh, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Shimla, Dharamshala, and Jamnagar, among others. Due to these airspace restrictions, operations were temporarily halted at these locations, significantly impacting both domestic and international air travel. Airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Star Air, were forced to cancel several flights and temporarily suspend services to and from these airports.

IndiGo, one of the most affected airlines, canceled 165 flights as a result of government-issued airspace restrictions. A spokesperson from the airline confirmed that the cancellations would continue until 5:29 AM IST on May 10, 2025. Air India also suspended services to several cities, including Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, and Amritsar, in line with aviation authorities' notifications regarding airport closures. The airline confirmed that its services to and from these stations would remain suspended until the same time on May 10.

In addition to domestic disruptions, international airlines were also impacted. At Delhi International Airport, 35 flights, including both departures and arrivals, were canceled. This included 23 domestic flights, eight international flights, and four international arrivals. Foreign carriers, including Qatar Airways and American Airlines, also adjusted their operations, suspending flights or rerouting them to avoid airspace over Pakistan. Multiple international flights were redirected, with more than 25 international flights avoiding Pakistani airspace after the Indian missile strikes. Additionally, KLM and Singapore Airlines confirmed they had suspended routes over Pakistan until further notice.

The airspace shutdown and flight cancellations are a direct consequence of the Indian military's retaliatory strikes, which targeted nine terror camps in PoK. The strikes were completed in just 25 minutes, leading to significant operational disruptions in the region’s air traffic. Airline officials have assured that they are offering rescheduling waivers and full refunds for affected passengers.