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Missile strikes spark major aviation disruption as India enforces airport closures
India’s bold military action against the Pahalgam terror attack, codenamed Operation Sindoor, has had a ripple effect on civil air travel nationwide. In the early hours of Wednesday, the Indian Armed Forces conducted missile strikes against nine terror camps within Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (Pok), targeting facilities belonging to outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
At least 18 airports in northern and western India have been closed to commercial traffic in the aftermath of the operation, resulting in more than 200 flight cancellations and severe inconvenience to thousands of passengers.
The government action follows rising regional tensions as India and Pakistan prepare for possible escalation along the Line of Control and neighbouring sectors.
18 Civilian Airports Closed for Security
After the strikes, Indian aviation officials immediately restricted air traffic in sensitive areas. Though Rajkot and Bhuj airports in Gujarat continue to operate for military flights, they have been shut for civilian aircraft till further notice. Other major airports along the northern belt have also been closed in an attempt to lock Indian airspace.
The following airports have been closed temporarily:
Srinagar
Leh
Jammu
Amritsar
Pathankot
Chandigarh
Jodhpur
Jaisalmer
Shimla
Dharamshala
Jamnagar
Bhuj
Rajkot
Porbandar
Bhatinda
Thoise
Bikaner
Hindon
In official statements, the closures are preemptive and potentially extendable subject to changing security evaluations.
Airlines Halt Flights, Provide Refunds
A few Indian airlines have put out travel advisories and suspended operations on impacted routes. Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express have confirmed cancellations on their northern networks. Air India announced that flights to and from Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot will continue to be suspended until at least 5:29 AM IST on May 10.
IndiGo reported cancelling more than 165 flights, affecting operations in Amritsar, Srinagar, Leh, Chandigarh, Bikaner, and Rajkot. The airline is providing affected passengers with full refunds of free rescheduling. Likewise, Akasa Air suspended all Srinagar flights to and from Srinagar, while Star Air cancelled flights at Nanded, Hindon, Adampur, and Bhuj.
At least 35 flight cancellations were affected at Delhi IGIA, out of which 23 were domestic departures, 8 arrivals, and 4 international services. Under ongoing airspace fatigues, certain flights out of India’s capital were suspended by international carriers-including American Airlines.
Pakistan Airspace Closure Affects Routes Worldwide
Therefore, Pakistan had closed down its airspace, prompting international carriers to start diverting or suspending operations of flights that channel through this airspace. Qatar Airways confirmed suspended services to Pakistan. Based on data from FlightRadar24, there is no air traffic over Pakistan, adding to further international travel delays.
Continued Disruption Likely
With Indo-Pak tensions simmering, officials fear that disruptions may extend beyond the 24-hour horizon, especially for border region airports. The unprecedented scale of Operation Sindoor has led to one of the biggest aviation disruptions of recent times, underscoring the larger geopolitical concerns that attend cross-border conflict.