New Delhi, May 9 - India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, a military operation involving precision missile strikes targeting nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The operation, a response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, primarily tourists, two weeks prior, aimed to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, including strongholds of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke. The Indian Ministry of Defense described the strikes as focused, measured, and non-escalatory, ensuring no Pakistani military facilities were targeted. However, the operation triggered significant disruptions to air travel across northern, western, and central India, with 27 airports temporarily closing commercial operations until 5:29 a.m. on May 10, 2025, and over 400 flights canceled on May 8 alone.
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The closure of airports, including major hubs like Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jodhpur, and Rajkot, as well as smaller facilities such as Dharamshala, Bikaner, Gwalior, Kishangarh, Bhuj, and Jamnagar, was prompted by airspace restrictions imposed by aviation authorities. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the country’s busiest, reported over 140 cancellations on May 7, including 65 incoming and 66 outgoing domestic flights, alongside two international arrivals and departures. The affected airports span regions critical to both domestic and international connectivity, leading to widespread travel disruptions.
Major Indian carriers, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express, issued travel advisories urging passengers to check flight statuses before heading to airports. IndiGo, the country’s largest airline by market share, canceled over 165 flights, impacting routes to high-alert zones like Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Gwalior, Kishangarh, and Rajkot. Air India suspended services to nine stations, including Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot, diverting two international flights en route to Amritsar to Delhi. SpiceJet halted operations to Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Dharamshala, Amritsar, Kandla, and Kangra, while Akasa Air canceled all Srinagar flights due to the airport’s closure for civil operations. Air India Express also suspended services to Amritsar, Gwalior, Jammu, Srinagar, and Hindon.
Airlines have responded by offering passengers flexibility, including full refunds or rescheduling without additional charges. IndiGo and Air India emphasized one-time waivers on rescheduling fees, while SpiceJet provided options for alternate flights subject to availability. International carriers, such as Qatar Airways, American Airlines, and United Airlines, also faced disruptions, with Qatar suspending flights to Pakistan due to its airspace closure and U.S. carriers canceling Delhi-bound services. The Indian government and aviation authorities have advised travelers to stay updated via airline websites and helplines, as the situation remains fluid. With commercial airspace heavily restricted and Pakistan’s airspace nearly empty of civilian aircraft, passengers are urged to plan alternative travel arrangements until normal operations resume.