Major air traffic in North, West, and Central Indian has been largely disrupted with no commercial flights at present, at least until Saturday, May 10th; 27 airports are still closed for operation.
This major shutdown, after India had just conducted its last set of military strikes on Tuesday, has seen around 430 domestic flights deferred and rendered thousands more passengers unable the sky.
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Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other authorities have shut down around 22 airports as a precautionary step. These airlines are mostly situated in the states abutting Pakistan or close to tactical military installations. These airports are for cities like Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jodhpur, and Bhuj etc. Until 5:29 AM IST on May 10, 2025, these restrictions will be in place.
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Reason for the Restrictions
They stem from the sudden spike in security which came with India’s “Operation Sindoor” — a series of targeted strikes in Pakistan and from the territory of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday (Wednesday), meant to cripple described terrorist infrastructure. India termed it a measured and non-escalatory move; however, seriously challenging global dynamics leave hardly any choice but to prepare for the worst when it comes to protecting territory within Indian sovereign airspace.
Effects on Air Travellers
The sudden and general suspension of the airport has had a major downstream impact on all travellers. Airlines—both flag carriers and low-cost operators in India (IndiGo, Air India / SpiceJet) have canceled scores of flights from the constrained airports. There is a massive backlog for passengers, rerouting, and travellers left stranded. Airlines are waiving rescheduling fees and giving full refunds to try and protect their customers.
International flights are being diverted to avoid restricted Indian and Pakistani airspace, meaning longer travel times as well.
Passengers are urged to contact their airlines directly for the most up-to-date status on flights on any airline before heading to the airport. The situation is improving rapidly, and security agencies will take all necessary steps before they make any further calls for the resumption of normal flight operations.
