India Reopens All 32 Airports for Civil Flights After Temporary ShutdownIn a major development, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has confirmed that all 32 airports in North, West, and Central India—temporarily shut since May 7—have now resumed civil flight operations. The closures had been initiated due to security concerns following heightened tensions along the India-Pakistan border. However, with the recent ceasefire agreement between the two nations, normal air traffic operations have been restored as of the morning of May 12, 2025.
A senior AAI official while speaking to Marksmen Daily Correspondent confirmed that airports across affected regions are once again operational, although a formal statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation is still awaited. Airlines and airport authorities have started issuing their own updates to inform travellers.
Among the first to resume services was the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Chandigarh, which reopened for flight operations at 10:30 a.m. on Monday. The airport advised passengers to stay in touch with their airlines for the latest flight information and scheduling changes.
Low-cost carrier IndiGo also confirmed the resumption of services via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle. The airline stated that operations would resume in a phased manner and acknowledged the possibility of minor delays or last-minute changes. IndiGo is offering fee waivers for passengers traveling to and from the affected airports until May 22, 2025, as part of its customer support initiative.
Meanwhile, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) issued a notice stating that the temporary closure of these airports—originally in place until 05:29 hrs on May 15—has been officially lifted with immediate effect. All affected airports are now open for civil aircraft movements.
While domestic operations are resuming, it remains to be seen when Indian carriers will restart overflying Pakistan airspace for west-bound international routes, a decision likely to depend on further diplomatic clarity.
Passengers are urged to regularly check flight statuses on airline websites or mobile apps and stay updated on any last-minute adjustments as operations stabilize in the coming days.
