Over 200 Flights Cancelled, 18 Airports Shut After India’s Strikes on Pak Terror Bases
Over 200 flights cancelled, 18 airports shut after India’s strikes on Pak terror camps disrupt air traffic across India and Asia.
Air travel across Asia faced major disruptions on Wednesday as India’s retaliatory strikes on terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) triggered the temporary closure of 18 airports and the cancellation of over 200 flights across domestic and international routes.
The strikes—part of Operation Sindoor—targeted nine known terror hubs, including Jaish-e-Mohammed's base in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's operations in Muridke, following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Airports in Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jammu, Jodhpur, Pathankot, Shimla, Dharamshala, Jamnagar, and others were placed under temporary shutdown due to heightened security alerts and airspace restrictions.
The disruption hit several airlines. IndiGo cancelled more than 160 flights, with services completely halted at key northern airports. Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, Star Air, and Air India Express also suspended operations across affected routes.
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport saw at least 35 cancellations between midnight and morning, including 23 domestic departures, 8 arrivals, and 4 international flights. American Airlines and United Airlines cancelled services to Delhi amid growing regional tensions.
In a statement, Air India confirmed flight suspensions to and from multiple cities, including Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Bhuj, Chandigarh, and Rajkot, until 5:29 AM on May 10. Affected passengers were offered free rescheduling or full refunds.
IndiGo echoed the response, urging passengers to stay updated as network-wide changes were anticipated. SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Star Air also announced route-specific cancellations until May 10.
The impact extended beyond Indian airspace. Qatar Airways temporarily suspended flights to Pakistan, citing the closure of Pakistani airspace in response to the Indian military action.
Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport issued a passenger advisory, confirming cancellations and advising travelers to verify flight statuses before arriving.
As tensions rise between the two nations, authorities and airlines remain on alert, monitoring the situation closely for further developments.
