IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet Issue Advisories As Border Tensions Hit Airport Operations In J&K, Punjab
Airports in six northern cities—Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, and Dharamshala—have been shut, SpiceJet said.
IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Akasa Air issued advisories in the wee hours of Wednesday as several airports in northern India will remain closed, amid the escalation of India-Pakistan tensions.
Airports in six northern cities—Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, and Dharamshala—have been shut, SpiceJet said. This came following the Indian Army’s launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting terrorist bases in Pakistan in the early hours of Wednesday.
"Due to changing airspace conditions in the region, our flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh and Dharamshala are impacted. We request you to check your flight status at https://bit.ly/31paVKQ before reaching the airport," IndiGo announced on its X profile.
The airlines later updated that flights to and from Bikaner are also impacted by the current airspace restrictions.
In a latest advisory at 5:00 am, IndiGo shared that in view of evolving airspace restrictions, it expects impact on flight schedules. "We sincerely request you to check your flight status before leaving for the airport. In case your flight is cancelled, alternate options and refund claims can be easily managed through our website. We are actively monitoring the developments and will continue to keep you informed," IndiGo Airlines shared.
After IndiGo, SpiceJet also shared an advisory on its X profile. "Due to ongoing situation, airports in parts of northern India, including Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar, are closed until further notice. Departures, arrivals, and consequential flights may be impacted. Passengers are advised to plan their journey accordingly," the airline said.
Air India shared an advisory on its X profile as well. "In view of the prevailing situation, Air India has cancelled all its flights to and from the following stations – Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot – till 12 noon on 7 May, pending further updates from authorities," the Airlines wrote.
"Two international flights en route to Amritsar are being diverted to Delhi. We regret the inconvenience caused due to this unforeseen disruption," Air India further shared.
Air India Express announced that multiple flights on its network are impacted due to prevailing restrictions. "For alerts and notifications on flights, please ensure your contact details are updated on http://airindiaexpress.com/manage-booking," the airlines shared on its X profile.
Akasa Air also took to social media to announced that its flights to and from Srinagar have been cancelled. "Due to to the prevailing situation in the region, Srinagar airport has been closed for civil operations," it said.
The announcements came shortly after the Indian Army targeted nine terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The Operation Sindoor, as the strikes were described in the official statement, was in response to the Pahalgam terror attack two weeks ago that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
