Major carriers including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, Air India Express, and several foreign airlines cancelled services to and from key airports such as Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Pathankot, Chandigarh, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Shimla, Dharamshala and Jamnagar, according to PTI.
The aviation restrictions, implemented early Wednesday morning, come in the wake of retaliatory strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces targeting terror infrastructure across the border, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad base in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s camp in Muridke
.
Aviation sources said IndiGo alone cancelled more than 165 flights, including operations from Amritsar and Srinagar.
“Due to government notification on airspace restrictions, over 165 IndiGo flights from multiple airports (Amritsar, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Gwalior, Jammu, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, Leh, Rajkot, and Srinagar) are cancelled until 0529 hrs IST of 10 May 2025,” the airline said in a statement.
IndiGo passengers have been offered free rescheduling or full refunds.
Air India and Air India Express also cancelled about 140 flights, with operations affected at several northern and western airports.
“Air India flights to and from the following stations, Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot, are being cancelled till 0529 hrs IST on 10 May following a notification from aviation authorities on the closure of these airports,” the airline said.
Affected customers are eligible for a one-time rescheduling waiver or full refunds.
SpiceJet said flights to and from Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Dharamshala, Kandla, and Amritsar will remain cancelled till 5:29 am on May 10.
“The affected passengers can opt for a full refund or an alternate flight as per availability,” the airline said in an update.
Akasa Air also suspended all flights to and from Srinagar until May 9.
The impact was visible at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where about 140 flights were cancelled — including 65 arrivals, 66 departures, and a few international flights.
“Due to changing airspace conditions some flights have been impacted. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates and alternate travel arrangements,” said Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) on social media.
Regional airline Star Air cancelled services on routes including Nanded, Hindon, Adampur, Kishangarh and Bhuj.
On the international front, United Airlines cancelled its Newark–Delhi service, while American Airlines cancelled its New York–Delhi flight, as per data on tracking site Flightradar24. Qatar Airways said it had temporarily suspended flights to Pakistan due to the closure of Pakistani airspace.
Officials confirmed that India closed 25 flight routes along the international border to prevent aircraft from entering Pakistani airspace following the strikes. The airstrikes were a response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which left several personnel dead.
India’s military action under Operation Sindoor targeted nine sites, including terror camps and launch pads, marking one of the most extensive cross-border operations in recent years.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the India-Pakistan border conflict
