Over 200 Flights Cancelled, 18 Airports Temporarily Closed Amid Airspace Restrictions

New Delhi/Mumbai: More than 200 flights were cancelled and at least 18 airports, including Srinagar, were temporarily closed on Wednesday following missile strikes by Indian armed forces on terror targets in Pakistan. The airspace restrictions, imposed in the wake of Operation Sindoor, have significantly disrupted air travel across northern and western India.
Airlines including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and several foreign carriers have suspended operations to and from multiple affected airports. The shutdown affects key airports such as Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, Pathankot, Chandigarh, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Shimla, Dharamshala, and Jamnagar, among others.
According to sources, over 200 flights have been cancelled, with IndiGo alone scrapping more than 165 flights across airports such as Amritsar, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Gwalior, and Leh. These cancellations will remain in effect until 05:29 IST on May 10.
Air India has also suspended services to and from several cities including Jammu, Leh, Bhuj, Rajkot, and Jamnagar. The airline announced that passengers holding valid tickets during this period will be eligible for a one-time waiver on rescheduling charges or a full refund.
IndiGo, in a statement, confirmed that affected passengers can reschedule their bookings on the next available flight or opt for a cancellation at no additional cost. The carrier operates about 2,200 flights daily.
SpiceJet reported that airports in northern India—including Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar—remain closed until further notice. It advised passengers to check flight status and offered options for refunds or alternate bookings.
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has also been impacted, with at least 35 flights—23 domestic departures, eight domestic arrivals, and four international departures—cancelled since midnight, including services by American Airlines.
Akasa Air announced the suspension of all flights to and from Srinagar, while regional carrier Star Air cancelled flights to/from Nanded, Hindon, Adampur, Kishangarh, and Bhuj.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), in a statement, acknowledged that several flights have been affected due to changing airspace conditions.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to Pakistan in response to the closure of Pakistani airspace.
The flight disruptions come after Indian armed forces launched a series of missile strikes early Wednesday under Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. These included the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base in Muridke, in retaliation for the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.