India shuts down several airports in North following Operation Sindoor

Air travel across several parts of northern India came to an abrupt halt for civilian passengers on Wednesday morning, May 7, 2025, as multiple airports were closed until further notice. The sweeping measure follows India's announcement of targeted military operations conducted against Pakistan in the pre-dawn hours. This has led to significant disruptions for thousands of travellers, with major airlines cancelling and diverting flights.

The airports affected by the closure include key hubs such as Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh; Leh, Jammu, and Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir; Amritsar in Punjab; Bikaner in Rajasthan; and the Hindon airbase in the Delhi NCR region. The decision to suspend civilian flight operations is understood to be a precautionary measure in the wake of the sensitive geopolitical situation.

Leading Indian carriers, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India, and Air India Express, quickly confirmed the airport closures and began disseminating information to affected passengers, primarily through social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). The core message has been one of caution, urging passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airports and to brace for potential impacts on their travel plans.

SpiceJet, in its advisory, stated, "Due to the ongoing situation, airports in parts of northern India, including Dharamshala (DHM), Leh (IXL), Jammu (IXJ), Srinagar (SXR), and Amritsar (ATQ), are closed until further notice. Departures, arrivals, and consequential flights may be impacted." Similarly, IndiGo informed travellers that operations at Bikaner were also affected by the airspace restrictions and advised passengers to verify their flight status.

Tata-run Air India announced a more specific initial timeline, cancelling all its flights to and from a wider list of stations – Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot – "till 12 noon on 7 May, pending further updates from authorities." The national carrier also confirmed that two of its international flights originally destined for Amritsar were being diverted to Delhi, expressing regret for the "unforeseen disruption."

The suspension of services is a direct consequence of India's declaration that it carried out "precise strikes on nine terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir" earlier this morning. As the situation remains fluid, passengers booked on flights to or from the affected regions are advised to stay in close contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates on flight schedules and potential 1  alternative arrangements.