India’s retaliatory action under Operation Sindoor against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir triggered major disruptions in civil aviation on Wednesday. The Indian Air Force launched a coordinated missile strike on nine known terror hubs, including Jaish-e-Mohammad’s Bahawalpur base and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Muridke stronghold, following the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. As a direct fallout of the heightened security and airspace restrictions, over 200 flights were cancelled and 18 airports across northern and western India were temporarily shut down, affecting both domestic and international air travel.
Airports in Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Pathankot, Shimla, Dharamshala, Jamnagar, and Bhuj remained non-operational through the day. Airlines scrambled to issue travel advisories as passengers faced widespread delays, cancellations, and last-minute rescheduling.
Airlines Respond with Cancellations and Waiver Policies
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, was the most affected, cancelling 165 flights due to government directives on restricted airspace. In a statement, the airline said all flights operating to and from airports in key conflict-zone regions were cancelled until 5:29 AM on May 10. Passengers were offered full refunds or a one-time rescheduling waiver.
Air India also suspended its services to and from Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Bhuj, and Chandigarh. The airline confirmed that the cancellations followed notifications from aviation authorities and would remain effective until the morning of May 10. Similar statements were released by Air India Express, which suspended services to multiple northern cities and encouraged passengers to opt for free rebooking or refunds.
SpiceJet confirmed that operations at several of its key hubs in northern India had been suspended “until further notice” and warned that associated flight delays and diversions may affect even unaffected routes. Akasa Air and regional airline Star Air also joined the list of carriers calling off flights, with Star Air suspending services to Hindon, Adampur, Nanded, and Kishangarh.
Delhi Airport and International Carriers Bear the Brunt
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the busiest in the country, reported the cancellation of 35 flights by early morning. Of these, 23 were domestic departures, eight were arrivals, and four were international flights. DIAL, the operator of the airport, issued an advisory warning travellers to expect possible disruptions due to evolving airspace conditions.
Qatar Airways temporarily suspended flights to Pakistan, citing the closure of Pakistani airspace in response to the Indian strikes. American Airlines also withdrew some of its scheduled flights. International ripple effects were seen across the board, with global carriers such as Singapore Airlines and KLM avoiding Pakistani airspace. Singapore Airlines confirmed rerouting decisions from May 6, while KLM announced it would not operate over Pakistani territory until further review.
Global Airspace Altered as International Flights Rerouted
Global flight-tracking systems revealed a near-total absence of commercial aircraft over northwestern India and all of Pakistan on Wednesday. Over 25 international flights were rerouted to avoid Pakistani airspace in the hours following the Indian strikes. FlightRadar24 data showed that at least 52 flights to or from Pakistan were cancelled or diverted due to the regional tensions.
The aviation impact of Operation Sindoor underscores the scale and strategic depth of the Indian armed response. As both countries’ airspace remained restricted and tensions persisted, civil aviation authorities and airlines worldwide continued to monitor the situation closely, leaving passengers and stakeholders bracing for further disruptions.