Deadly India-Pakistan strikes prompt airlines to cancel & reroute flights

Airlines in India have suspended operations at over two dozen airports across the northern and western parts of the country due to escalating tensions with Pakistan.

In notifications issued to travellers, major Indian carriers announced that flights would remain grounded through Saturday at airports such as Amritsar in Punjab and Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir, near the Pakistani border.

IndiGo, India’s largest domestic airline, cancelled 165 flights on Wednesday. Air India and Air India Express, reported a similar number of cancellations. Air India also rerouted two international flights originally set to land in Amritsar to New Delhi, following the abrupt shutdown of the airport.

India and Pakistan are on the brink of a renewed military standoff after Indian forces launched missile strikes in Pakistani territory on Wednesday (May 7).

The strikes targeted what India described as terrorist training facilities, in retaliation for last month’s killing of 26 Indian tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir. India holds Pakistan responsible for supporting the attackers, a charge Islamabad denies.

India has currently closed 27 major airports across the northern, western, and central regions until Friday, May 9. These include Chandigarh, Srinagar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Shimla, Bhatinda, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jammu, Leh, Rajkot, Pathankot, Bhuj, Gwalior, Hindon, among others.

Additionally, India has shut down roughly 25 air corridors that provide access for aircraft entering Pakistani airspace from India. As a result, international carriers that typically transit through Pakistani skies after leaving India will now need to reroute, leading to longer flight paths.

United Airlines and American Airlines cancelled their flights to Delhi on Wednesday. United stated that it is keeping an eye on the situation and will make decisions on future flights as more updates become available.

Air Canada, on May 8, adjusted its ticketing policy to allow passengers affected by flight disruptions to modify their bookings without incurring fees, subject to seat availability.

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