Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, which the Indian Armed Forces launched to strike nine terror hotbeds in Pakistan, India temporarily shut down its airports across North India till May 15. Now that a ceasefire understanding has been reached between India and Pakistan, the order has been revoked, and the operations are likely to resume soon.
“DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) of Pakistan called up DGMO (of India) at 3.35 pm. They agreed that both sides will stop all firing and military action from land, air and sea from 5 pm onwards”, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Saturday. Misri has been communicating India’s diplomatic stance on a regular basis.
According to a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) issued Friday, several airports were to remain shut till 5:29 am on May 15.
These 32 airports were either close to the India-Pakistan border or housed at key Indian Air Force bases. The affected airports included Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ambala, Ludhiana, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Uttarlai, Rajkot, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Dharamshala, Bathinda, Patiala, Pathankot, Shimla, Kishangarh, Hindon, Porbandar, Mundra, and Kandla, among others.
Airports reopen: Check the full list below
- Adhampur
- Ambala
- Amritsar
- Awantipur
- Bathinda
- Bhuj
- Bikaner
- Chandigarh
- Halwara
- Hindon
- Jaisalmer
- Jammu
- Jamnagar
- Jodhpur
- Kandla
- Kangra (Gaggal)
- Keshod
- Kishangarh
- Kullu Manali (Bhuntar)
- Leh
- Ludhiana
- Mundra
- Naliya
- Pathankot
- Patiala
- Porbandar
- Rajkot (Hirasar)
- Sarsawa
- Shimla
- Srinagar
- Thoise
- Uttarlai
IndiGo issues travel advisory
Following the cancellation of the order, IndiGo shared a travel advisory for its customers. IndiGo, in a statement dated May 12, said, “In line with the latest government directives, the airports are open for operations. We will progressively commence operations on the previously closed routes.”
“As services gradually return to normal, there may still be a few delays and last-minute adjustments. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as our teams work diligently to restore seamless operations,” it added.
It further informed that those who have reconsidered their travel plans, the change and cancellation fee waivers that they had earlier implemented due to the tensions between two nuclear-armed states, remain available until May 22 for travel to and from the affected airports.