In response to escalating military tensions with Pakistan, India has taken swift action to secure its skies, resulting in the closure of over two dozen airports. This move, which has significantly disrupted air travel across South Asia, follows Indian airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on May 7th.
The closures, which began shortly after the strikes, affect 27 airports across northern, western, and central India and are expected to last until May 10th. Some of the affected airports include Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and others. Many of these airports are shared with military operations.
The decision to close these airports was a security measure taken after India's "Operation Sindoor," which involved strikes on alleged terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan. The Indian action was in retaliation for a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge Islamabad denies.
The airport closures have led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights, causing major disruptions for travelers. Indian carriers have reportedly canceled 430 flights, which is around three percent of the country's schedule. Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet have suspended services to the affected destinations, offering passengers refunds and rescheduling options.
International airlines have also been impacted, with many forced to reroute flights around Pakistani airspace, increasing flight durations. Carriers like Singapore Airlines, KLM, United Airlines, and Korean Air have altered routes or canceled services entirely. Flight tracking data shows commercial aircraft diverting over Oman, the UAE, and the Arabian Sea to avoid the conflict zone, raising concerns about potential airspace congestion.
Pakistan initially shut its airspace entirely for 48 hours, halting all domestic and international flights. While air traffic has resumed on major routes, some airspace, particularly over Lahore, remains restricted. The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has criticized India's actions as "reckless and provocative" and has raised concerns with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), warning of "serious risks to civil aviation safety".
The UK government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border. The Wagah-Attari border crossing is closed. The Foreign Office also advises against all but essential travel within five miles of the international border between Pakistan and India, as well as all travel within 10 miles of the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
