New Delhi: In the wake of India’s military action under Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, aviation operations across northern India have been severely impacted. The Indian Armed Forces confirmed early Wednesday morning that they carried out precision strikes on nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has announced the complete closure of Srinagar Airport for the day, with all commercial flights suspended.
In a related advisory, Delhi Airport authorities urged passengers to remain in touch with airlines for real-time updates. “Due to changing airspace conditions, some flights have been impacted at the Delhi airport,” read the official communication.
Flight Cancellations Across Carriers
National carrier Air India has cancelled all flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot until 12 noon on Wednesday. The airline attributed the cancellations to heightened security concerns following India’s cross-border military operation.
IndiGo issued a travel alert confirming that its operations have been affected at Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, and Bikaner. The airline urged passengers to check flight statuses before proceeding to the airport.
SpiceJet similarly announced the temporary suspension of services at several northern airports including Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar. The carrier warned of possible disruptions in both domestic and connecting international flights.
International Disruptions
The ripple effects of the conflict have reached international skies as well. Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to Pakistan, citing the closure of Pakistani airspace. The airline stated it is “closely monitoring developments” and remains committed to passenger and crew safety.
About Operation Sindoor
At 1:44 AM on May 7, the Indian Armed Forces initiated Operation Sindoor, targeting nine locations believed to be operating as terrorist infrastructure. According to the Ministry of Defence, these sites were actively involved in planning and directing attacks against India.
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted,” the Ministry clarified. The operation reportedly resulted in eight fatalities and over 35 injuries.
While the situation remains fluid, aviation authorities and airlines are maintaining high alert and operational flexibility in anticipation of further developments.
