India’s civil aviation sector faced widespread disruption on Wednesday, with over 200 flights canceled and operations suspended at 18 airports across the country. The shutdowns followed heightened security measures in response to the escalating military situation between India and Pakistan.
Key airports such as Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, and Chandigarh were temporarily closed, while Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the busiest in the country, saw dozens of flight disruptions between midnight and Wednesday morning.
India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, was hit the hardest, grounding approximately 165 flights. The airline urged passengers to check the live flight status on its platform before traveling. Other major carriers, including Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Star Air, suspended services to multiple northern and western airports. Some of the affected destinations included Jammu, Jodhpur, Bhuj, Dharamshala, and Jamnagar.
Air India reported that it had suspended flights to and from nine airports, including Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, and Amritsar, with operations not expected to resume until at least May 10. To assist affected passengers, the airline is offering full refunds or rescheduling waivers.
SpiceJet also grounded flights to cities such as Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, and Amritsar. Akasa Air halted all flights bound for Srinagar, while Star Air suspended services to smaller regional destinations, including Nanded, Hindon, and Kishangarh.
The disruptions had a global impact, with international carriers like United Airlines and Qatar Airways also adjusting their schedules. United Airlines canceled flights to Delhi, citing “operational constraints” amid rising tensions, and advised passengers to stay updated. Similarly, Qatar Airways suspended flights to Pakistan due to airspace restrictions following Indian military actions.
In southern India, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport confirmed flight cancellations due to ongoing airspace restrictions and urged travelers to confirm their flight status with airlines. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates IGI Airport, acknowledged the disruption and warned of further cancellations due to evolving airspace conditions.
The aviation disruptions, one of the most significant in recent years, are being compared to the post-Balakot strike scenario in 2019, which also led to widespread airspace closures and affected global
