Operation Sindoor: Over 400 Flights Cancelled, 27 Airports Shut Due to Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions

As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, authorities have closed 27 airports across northern, western, and central India until 5:29 AM on Saturday, May 10, severely disrupting air travel. Indian airlines have cancelled 430 flights, which make up approximately 3% of the country’s total scheduled operations. Airlines are urging passengers to verify their flight status. Meanwhile, Pakistani carriers have cancelled over 147 flights, affecting nearly 17% of their daily air traffic.

According to global flight tracking service Flightradar24, the airspace over Pakistan and India’s western corridor, from Kashmir to Gujarat, was largely empty of civilian aircraft on Thursday. The airspace over India’s western region from Pakistan to Kashmir and Gujarat, was free of civilian air traffic as airlines avoided the sensitive region.

Airlines Tighten Security, Urge Early Airports Arrival Amid Rising India-Pakistan Tensions

Notably,  tensions between India and Pakistan escalated on Thursday after Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks aimed at military installations in the Indian states of Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Meanwhile, airlines operating in India issued advisories for travelers. Air India informed passengers that they should arrive at the airports three hours before their flight times.

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Air India issued an advisory stating that, following an order from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, it has implemented enhanced security measures at airports. The airline encouraged passengers across the country to allow extra time for check-in and boarding, and highlighted that it would close check-in 75 minutes before departure.

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Akasa Airline also released a similar advisory. In a post on X, Akasa Air advised passengers to arrive at least three hours before their departure due to heightened security protocols at all airports in India. The airline urged travelers to carry valid government-approved photo identification for airport entry. It informed passengers that they could bring only one handbag weighing up to 7 kilograms in addition to checked baggage. Akasa Air also announced that all passengers would undergo secondary security checks before boarding.