India closes 25 airports after strikes on Pakistan terror camps
India has shut down 25 airports for civil flights following rising tensions with Pakistan after a wave of drone and missile attacks.
The closures come after India launched “Operation Sindoor,” a series of missile strikes on what it described as terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The move was in response to a recent deadly attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that the airports will remain closed until at least Saturday, May 10.
Affected airports include major hubs like Srinagar, Amritsar, Jammu, Leh, Chandigarh, and Jaisalmer. The decision has disrupted hundreds of flights and created long delays, especially across northern and western India.
Airlines including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet have cancelled services to the affected areas and are offering full refunds or free rescheduling.
IndiGo said in a statement, “Due to government notification on airspace restrictions, over 165 IndiGo flights from multiple airports... are cancelled until 0529 hrs IST of 10 May 2025.”
Delhi Airport, the busiest in the country, saw the cancellation of more than 140 flights on May 8 alone, local reports indicate.
International carriers such as Qatar Airways and American Airlines also altered their schedules, with some halting services to and from Pakistan due to airspace concerns.
The situation worsened on May 8 after India’s air defence systems intercepted what officials called a Pakistani missile and drone attack in the states of Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan.
The strikes triggered blackouts, air raid sirens, and the suspension of an Indian Premier League cricket match in Dharamshala.
As security remains tight, airlines are urging passengers to arrive at operational airports early.
“We request you to allow some extra time for your journey to accommodate security checks and formalities,” IndiGo said on social media.
The government has not said when full flight services will resume.
