India Lifts Airport Closures, Resumes Flight Operations After India-Pakistan Conflict

India Reopens 32 Airports After Tensions with Pakistan Ease

After a three-day closure, thirty-two airports across northern and western India are set to reopen for civil flight operations. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) announcing the reopening, signaling a return to normalcy following heightened tensions with Pakistan.

A Notice to Airmen

NOTAMs, essentially written notices to aviation stakeholders, inform about changes in airspace or airport operations. The AAI issued separate NOTAMs for both the reopening of airports and international flight routes.

Easing Tensions

The decision to reopen the airports came after the Indian Air Force (IAF) reported no significant activity in border areas. This marks a period of calm following a series of aerial exchanges between India and Pakistan.

The airports were initially closed on Wednesday, May 7th, following precision strikes by the Indian Air Force on terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). These strikes were a direct response to a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22nd.

Flight Operations Resume

While some flight schedules were impacted and security checks took longer at Delhi airport during the closure, operations are expected to resume smoothly. Airlines will need to adjust their flight plans, which may take some time. The AAI confirmed that the process of reopening all airports is ongoing.

Pakistan’s Airspace Remains Closed

In contrast to India, Pakistan has kept its airspace closed for Indian airlines. International flights from northern India to Europe, the US, and Canada were rerouted southward during the closure. This closure had been in place since April 24th.

Full List of Closed Airports

The Airports Authority of India had closed the following airports:

• 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