#India-Pakistan strikes# flight cancellations# airspace lockdown# POK terror hubs# Indian missile strike
New Delhi/IBNS-CMEDIA: Over 200 flights were cancelled and at least 18 airports — including Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar and Chandigarh — were temporarily shut on Wednesday after the Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), media reports said.
The military action targeted nine terror hubs, including Jaish-e-Mohammad’s base in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s stronghold in Muridke.
The strikes came in the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
Airports across the northern and western regions — such as Jammu, Pathankot, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Shimla, Dharamshala and Jamnagar — suspended operations under heightened security protocols, reported India Today.
Several domestic and international carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India Express, Akasa Air and foreign airlines, halted flights to and from affected areas.
IndiGo alone cancelled approximately 160 flights.
A source said 35 flights to and from Delhi — the country’s busiest airport — were grounded between midnight and morning, including 23 domestic departures, eight arrivals, and four international services.
American Airlines and other global carriers also suspended operations.
Air India said in a statement that it had halted flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot until 5:29 am on May 10, following aviation authority directives, the India Today report said.
Affected customers are being offered full refunds or a one-time rescheduling waiver.
IndiGo also suspended all flights for the day at key northern airports, including Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, and Jodhpur.
“We are anticipating changes across our network,” the airline posted on X, urging passengers to check updates before travelling.
SpiceJet confirmed airport closures across Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar and Amritsar “until further notice” and assured passengers of refunds or alternative arrangements, the report added.
Akasa Air scrapped all its Srinagar flights, while regional airline Star Air cancelled operations to and from Nanded, Hindon, Adampur, Kishangarh and Bhuj, according to the report.
Air India Express also reported several cancellations, particularly on routes to Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar and Hindon.
“Multiple flights on our network are impacted,” the airline said, without confirming when normal operations would resume.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which runs the Indira Gandhi International Airport, warned of delays and cancellations due to “changing airspace conditions”.
The ripple effects were felt beyond Indian borders. Qatar Airways suspended services to Pakistan, citing the closure of Pakistani airspace in response to the Indian military action.
