India’s airspace on alert: over 27 airports shut, 430+ flights cancelled

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, 27 airports across northern, western, and central India have been closed to commercial traffic until 5:29 a.m. on May 10, according to a Times of India report. This unprecedented move follows India’s massive cross-border offensive—Operation Sindoor—which has killed over 70 terrorists, marking the most significant strike since the 1971 war.

The shutdown has severely impacted air travel. On Thursday alone, Indian carriers cancelled 430 flights, nearly 3% of the nation’s daily air traffic. Pakistan, too, saw chaos in the skies, scrapping 147 flights—about 17% of its schedule. Flightradar24 revealed near-empty air corridors from Kashmir to Gujarat as commercial airlines avoided the conflict zone entirely.

Airports hit by the closures include Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jodhpur, and more—many of which double as military bases. Airlines have scrambled to reroute flights, with some like Air India and American Airlines diverting or cancelling international operations.

Domestic airlines including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have issued advisories, offering fee waivers and urging passengers to verify their flight statuses before heading out. International carriers have stopped using Pakistani airspace altogether, preferring routes over Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Delhi airport has experienced partial disruptions with over 140 cancellations. The ripple effect has left India’s aviation network in turmoil, with flight paths and schedules in constant flux as the geopolitical standoff unfolds.

• Air traffic chaos as missile strikes hit airspace, hundreds of flights canceled
• Pakistan’s airspace closure forces Indian airlines to take longer routes

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