India halted operations at 18 airports and cancelled more than 200 flights on Wednesday as security measures intensified across the country. Both domestic and international travel were significantly affected, with key northern airports—including Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, and Chandigarh—temporarily closed. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the busiest in the country, experienced disruptions to over 35 flights between midnight and the morning.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, cancelled around 165 flights, citing ongoing adjustments across its network. The airline urged passengers to stay updated on flight statuses before traveling.
Other Indian carriers—including Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Star Air—also suspended services to various northern and western airports such as Jammu, Jodhpur, Bhuj, Dharamshala, and Jamnagar, in accordance with aviation authority instructions.
Air India stated it had paused flights to and from nine airports—Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot—until at least 5:29 am on May 10, offering full refunds or free rescheduling options to affected customers.
SpiceJet confirmed cancellations of flights serving Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Dharamshala, Kandla, and Amritsar. Akasa Air suspended all flights to Srinagar, while regional airline Star Air stopped operations to Nanded, Hindon, Adampur, Kishangarh, and Bhuj.
The ripple effects of the escalating military situation extended beyond India. United Airlines cancelled its scheduled flights to Delhi, citing “operational constraints” tied to regional instability. “We are monitoring developments closely and will adjust accordingly,” the airline said.
Qatar Airways also halted operations to Pakistan after Islamabad temporarily closed its airspace in response to Indian military actions. Pakistani officials have not provided a timeline for reopening.
Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru issued a public advisory acknowledging multiple cancellations due to “current airspace restrictions,” and encouraged passengers to check directly with airlines.
Delhi airport authorities confirmed 35 disrupted flights, including 23 domestic departures, eight arrivals, and four international flights, warning that ongoing airspace changes could continue to impact services.
Aviation industry analysts said the scope of the disruption rivals the aftermath of the 2019 Balakot strikes, when airspace closures by both India and Pakistan significantly impacted global flight routes for weeks.
While the Indian government has not formally commented on the situation, multiple reports suggest that recent military operations under the banner of “Operation Sindoor” targeted alleged terror camps across the Line of Control. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has yet to announce when normal flight operations might resume.
Experts cautioned that extended northern airspace restrictions could severely affect global aviation routes, particularly those crossing Asia and Europe.
