 A sweeping disruption in civil aviation paralysed large parts of northern and western India on Wednesday after over 300 domestic and international flights were cancelled and 25 key airports temporarily shut down.
The aviation fallout followed the Indian Armed Forces’ precision missile strikes on identified terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the coordinated defence response code-named Operation Sindoor. The air operation, which was in retaliation to a recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, led to the imposition of strict no-fly zones across sensitive border regions. By mid-day, flight operations had been completely suspended at multiple airports including Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Leh. Authorities confirmed that 25 airports remained closed to civilian aircraft and will remain so until at least 05:29 IST on 10 May.
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, bore the brunt of cancellations, with over 165 flights impacted across its network. State-run carrier Air India and regional operator Air India Express also grounded services to and from key northern cities. Other domestic carriers, including SpiceJet, Akasa Air and Star Air, suspended several scheduled operations. In Delhi alone India’s busiest aviation hub 140 flights were cancelled within 24 hours, severely impacting both domestic and international passengers. The impact spilled across national borders. With Pakistani airspace placed under military control, international carriers like Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Dutch airline KLM either suspended routes or rerouted flights to bypass the region entirely. FlightRadar24, a global flight tracking platform, reported 52 Pakistan-bound flights cancelled and dozens more rerouted to safer air corridors.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials noted that air traffic is expected to remain volatile over the next 48 hours. The near-empty skies over the Indo-Pak border, visible on live radar maps, serve as a stark reminder of the volatility in geopolitics that can so quickly ground civilian mobility. Meanwhile, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) issued repeated advisories asking passengers to stay in contact with airlines before travelling. While military actions often remain contained to defence corridors, the rapid escalation in this case underscores the vulnerability of civil aviation to geopolitical tensions. The chaos is a stark example of how infrastructure intended for peaceful, daily movement is one of the earliest casualties in any security conflict. For an industry already battling the pressures of post-pandemic demand shifts and climate challenges, the scale of this operational freeze is likely to lead to cascading schedule effects and mounting financial losses.
Airlines have stepped up efforts to accommodate stranded passengers. Most are offering free rescheduling and full refunds, though many travellers across affected states are reportedly stranded with limited intercity options. With railway networks also under pressure, particularly in border states, the need for coordinated and sustainable transport alternatives has come into sharper focus. Even as defence authorities assert control and assure that civilian safety remains paramount, the event has reignited discussions about India’s preparedness for conflict-era disruptions. It also places a spotlight on the urgent requirement for resilient, decentralised transport systems that can withstand both man-made and climate-induced crises. The air traffic disruption, though temporary, adds urgency to broader conversations about designing cities and travel infrastructure that prioritise resilience, neutrality, and access for all.
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