Indian airlines cancel flights to 7 cities amid cross-border tensions

In the wake of ongoing security tensions between India and Pakistan, IndiGo and Air India have once again cancelled flights to and from multiple border cities, including Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, and Chandigarh, for Tuesday, May 13. The move comes just a day after these airports were briefly reopened for civilian operations.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Air India stated, "In view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind, flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot are cancelled for Tuesday, 13th May. We are monitoring the situation and will keep you updated."

Following suit, IndiGo also cancelled its services to and from Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar, and Rajkot, citing passenger safety as the top priority. A statement released by the airline expressed regret for the disruption and reassured customers that updates would be provided as the situation evolves.

These cancellations have disrupted the brief window of resumed civilian air traffic, which was announced on Monday by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The AAI had approved temporary operations at 32 airports—including Adhampur, Ambala, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bikaner, Halwara, and several others—till May 15, after the airports were shut down last week due to rising cross-border tensions.

The closure and re-closure of flights in these sensitive zones have thrown travel plans into disarray, especially for those travelling for family emergencies or business commitments. Several passengers have taken to social media, expressing frustration over the uncertainty and short notice.