In the wake of a ceasefire understanding with Pakistan, India has lifted temporary airspace restrictions imposed across parts of its northern and western region, as reported by the Indian Express.. Aviation authorities cancelled a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) on Monday morning, which had earlier restricted civil flight operations at 32 airports until 5:29 a.m. on May 15. The move signals a de-escalation in regional tensions and paves the way for the resumption of regular air traffic in the affected areas.
“Attention Flyers; reference notice issued for temporary closure of 32 Airports for civil Aircraft operations till 05:29 hrs of 15 May 2025. It is informed that these Airports are now available for civil Aircraft operations with immediate effect. It is recommended for travellers to check flight status directly with Airlines and monitor Airline’s websites for regular updates,” the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said in a release.
The airport closures across northern and western India amid heightened tensions with Pakistan had a significant impact on air travel, with industry sources estimating the cancellation of over 300 flights daily. IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, bore the brunt of the disruption, with more than 160 of its flights grounded each day due to the restricted airspace.
In response to India’s precision strikes on nine targets in Pakistan under ‘Operation Sindoor’ in the early hours of May 7, authorities in New Delhi ordered the closure of approximately 25 airports near the India-Pakistan border and key Indian Air Force bases. The move aimed to ensure the safety of civilian air traffic amid heightened military activity. Initially set to last until May 11, the closure was extended through May 15 as tensions escalated. Pakistan’s widespread drone and missile attacks on Indian military installations triggered a strong counteroffensive, prompting the addition of several more airports to the restricted list.
The temporary airspace restrictions affected a wide network of airports, including key hubs such as Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ambala, and Jodhpur, as well as smaller facilities like Ludhiana, Uttarlai, Kishangarh, and Mundra. Most of these airports are situated on or near defence airfields, and many handle only a limited number of commercial flights daily. Over the past several days, civilian air traffic has been virtually non-existent north of Delhi and across large parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat—regions home to sensitive border airports and strategic Indian Air Force bases.
“Following a notification from aviation authorities on the reopening of airports, Air India is working towards progressively commencing flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot. We appreciate your understanding at this time as our teams work on bringing operations at these airports back to normal. Please stay tuned for further updates,” Tata group airline Air India said.
