Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, May 8: In the wake of India's precision military offensive under Operation Sindoor, a total of 430 domestic flights were cancelled on Thursday, with aviation authorities announcing the closure of operations at 27 airports across the country until May 10.
According to real-time flight tracking data from Flightradar24, the airspace over Pakistan and India’s western region—from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat—remained largely devoid of civilian aircraft, as air carriers steered clear of the sensitive air corridor.
The temporarily shut airports include key hubs such as Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Rajkot, Bhuj, and Hindon, among others spread across northern and western India.
On Wednesday alone, over 300 flights had been grounded as operations at 21 airports were suspended, disrupting travel plans of thousands of passengers.
Responding to the crisis, Air India issued a public advisory stating that its customer service centres are dealing with exceptionally high call volumes. “We are offering full refunds and a one-time rescheduling fee waiver for affected flights until May 10,” the airline posted on X (formerly Twitter). Additionally, the carrier announced extended travel flexibility for military personnel booked under defence fare, acknowledging their ongoing duty commitments.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, also confirmed operational disruptions on routes to and from Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Dharamsala. The airline has waived change and cancellation fees for bookings made before April 22, 2025, for travel until May 22.
SpiceJet declared suspension of services to Dharamsala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar until further notice, while Akasa Air issued a travel advisory without specifying individual route impacts.
The airspace restrictions and cancellations come as a direct fallout of India’s military response to recent terror strikes, with authorities placing civilian safety at the forefront amidst ongoing security operations.