Air travel across northern and western India faced a massive disruption following missile strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces on terror targets located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. As a direct result of these military operations under Operation Sindoor, operations at 21 airports were suspended, and more than 300 flights were cancelled across several states. The move led to large-scale flight disruptions for domestic and international travelers, with several major airlines and foreign carriers grounding flights due to restricted airspace access.
The airports that bore the brunt of the closures include significant hubs such as Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Jodhpur. Other impacted airports include Pathankot, Jaisalmer, Shimla, Dharamshala, Jamnagar, Bhuj, Rajkot, Bikaner, Gwalior, Kishangarh, Kandla, Hindon, Nanded, and Adampur. While Delhi Airport did not shut down completely, it still saw the cancellation of at least 140 flights.
Several major Indian airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India Express, and Akasa Air, issued alerts about delays, rerouting, and mass cancellations due to the airspace restrictions put in place after the strikes. These disruptions affected both incoming and outgoing flights, leaving passengers stranded and prompting carriers to urge travelers to confirm flight schedules before heading to the airport.
SpiceJet, IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air took to the social media platform X to communicate the disruptions and provide updates. In a joint post, they informed passengers, “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. Passengers are advised to plan their journey accordingly and check flight status.”
The impact of the closures was widespread. Airports affected included:
- Srinagar
- Leh
- Jammu
- Amritsar
- Pathankot
- Chandigarh
- Jodhpur
- Jaisalmer
- Shimla
- Dharamshala
- Jamnagar
- Bhuj
- Rajkot
- Bikaner
- Gwalior
- Kishangarh
- Kandla
- Hindon
- Nanded
- Adampur
- Delhi (partial, with 140 flights canceled)
Airlines issued flight advisories to help passengers navigate the uncertainty. They recommended checking real-time updates on flight statuses and adjusting travel plans as necessary. The situation was described as fluid, with airspace access subject to rapid changes based on defense and security assessments.
IndiGo, under its “Operation Sindoor” response, posted a flight advisory on X. The airline warned that routes to and from key destinations would be significantly affected. “Due to changing airspace conditions in the region, our flights to and from #Srinagar, #Jammu, #Amritsar, #Leh, #Chandigarh and #Dharamshala are impacted. We request you to check your flight status before reaching the airport,” IndiGo posted. It also added that Bikaner would see similar disruptions owing to prevailing airspace restrictions.
Air India issued its own detailed travel update. The airline announced the cancellation of all flights to and from nine major stations: Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot. These cancellations were to remain in effect until at least 12 noon on May 7, pending further updates. “In view of the prevailing situation, Air India has cancelled all its flights to and from the following stations – Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot – till 12 noon on 7 May, pending further updates from authorities. Two international flights en route to Amritsar are being diverted to Delhi. We regret the inconvenience caused due to this unforeseen disruption,” the airline stated. In addition, Air India Express emphasized the importance of updated contact information for travelers to receive alerts. “Multiple flights on our network are impacted due to prevailing restrictions. For alerts and notifications on flights, please ensure your contact details are updated on http://airindiaexpress.com/manage-booking,” the post read.
SpiceJet also released a separate advisory to its passengers, reiterating the challenges caused by airspace closures. The carrier acknowledged that it would not operate flights to and from Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar until further notice. “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. Passengers are advised to plan their journey accordingly and check flight status,” SpiceJet announced on X.
These disruptions follow India’s military strikes targeting terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Indian armed forces launched these operations under the codename Operation Sindoor. The airstrikes were aimed at dismantling hideouts and operational bases of terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba. These militant groups have been linked to a number of attacks in India, and their bases in Pakistan were struck in early morning raids.
While the Indian government has not yet released an official statement detailing the scale of the operations or the casualties involved, the impact on civilian air travel has been immediate and extensive. Security experts suggest the closures were necessary to ensure the safety of both passengers and defense assets, given the possibility of escalation or retaliatory moves across the Line of Control.
Flight authorities and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are monitoring the situation closely. Airlines are working with the relevant government departments to receive updates and clearance before resuming operations. Travelers have been urged to remain calm and to contact their airlines directly for the most recent status on flights.
With heightened tensions in the region, many international airlines are also reviewing their routes over Indian and Pakistani airspace. Some have started diverting flights to alternate routes that avoid the conflict zone entirely, adding further complexity to global travel plans.
For now, the situation remains fluid, with military developments likely to dictate the timeline for when normal air travel operations can resume. Until then, passengers are encouraged to stay vigilant, monitor airline communications, and avoid unnecessary travel in the affected areas. The authorities are expected to issue further updates based on the evolving security landscape.