The conflict between India and Pakistan is causing significant disruption to international air travel, with multiple airlines rerouting or cancelling flights due to safety concerns. This comes following India’s airstrikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This is the most severe military clash between the two nations in more than 20 years.
As a result, the Indian government has temporarily closed 27 airports across northern, western, and central India until May 10, the Times of India reported. This has led to the cancellation of about 430 flights, accounting for approximately 3% of India’s scheduled flights and 17% of flights in Pakistan have also been reportedly cancelled.
Several airports across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, including Amritsar, Shimla, Jodhpur, and Jamnagar, have been closed.
The airport closures began shortly after India’s strikes, which took place around 1.30am on Wednesday.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued two NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) with the first affecting 18 airports, and the second that was issued at 3.20 pm, which expanded the shutdown to include nine more airports, according to the Hindustan Times.
Multiple airlines have had to cancel their flights. These include Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and SpiceJet.
Global airlines such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Korean Air, Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines have also had to reroute or cancel flights in order to avoid the region.
Korean Air has rerouted its Incheon–Dubai service via Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India instead of its usual route through Pakistan.
Singapore Airlines stopped overflying Pakistan as of May 6, while KLM also halted flights over the country “until further notice.”
India is also doing civil defence drills to prepare for potential attacks.
Bhopal Airport wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “As part of the Civil Defence Mock Drill, complete blackout was observed at Bhopal Airport on 07.05.2025 from 1930 to 1942 hrs. All lights, including terminal, operational area & other aviation lights were switched off during this period.”