In a significant move amid the escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday announced the temporary suspension of civilian flight operations at 32 airports across northern and western India. The closure, which came into effect from May 9, will continue until 5:29 AM IST on May 15, 2025, and includes key hubs such as Srinagar, Amritsar, Jammu, Leh, and Bhuj.
Following airports have been shutdown
- Adhampur
- Ambala
- Amritsar
- Awantipur
- Bathinda
- Bhuj
- Bikaner
- Chandigarh
- Halwara
- Hindon
- Jaisalmer
- Jammu
- Jamnagar
- Jodhpur
- Kandla
- Kangra (Gaggal)
- Keshod
- Kishangarh
- Kullu Manali (Bhuntar)
- Leh
- Ludhiana
- Mundra
- Naliya
- Pathankot
- Patiala
- Porbandar
- Rajkot (Hirasar)
- Sarsawa
- Shimla
- Srinagar
- Thoise
- Uttarlai
Airports impacted by NOTAM
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) directing the shutdown of airports due to “operational reasons.” The affected airports span states including Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh. Among the impacted airports are Adhampur, Ambala, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Halwara, Hindon, Jaisalmer, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Kangra, Kullu Manali, and Uttarlai, among others.
Airspace restrictions extended
In addition to airport closures, the DGCA has also extended the temporary suspension of 25 Air Traffic Service (ATS) route segments within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions (FIRs). These routes are now restricted from ground level to unlimited altitude until the morning of May 15, affecting both domestic and international flight plans. Airlines have been advised to reroute flights and coordinate closely with ATC units to ensure operational safety.
Airlines cancel flights, issues advisory
Major Indian carriers including Air India and IndiGo have cancelled flights to and from several cities. Air India, in a post on X, confirmed cancellations for flights to Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, Bhuj, and others. IndiGo also suspended services to 10 destinations, asking passengers to monitor updates for further guidance.
The aviation disruptions follow heightened hostilities after India’s May 7 airstrikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, which killed 26 people. The conflict has since seen cross-border shelling and drone attacks, prompting both India and Pakistan to impose airspace restrictions.