Operation Sindoor: 32 airports shut amid Indo Vs Pak to reopen

In a significant relief to air travellers and airlines, the Indian government has lifted flight restrictions on 32 airports that had been shut under ‘Operation Sindoor’ amid cross-border tensions with Pakistan. The decision follows the India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement announced over the weekend, as per a Times of India report.

NOTAMs revoked following the ceasefire

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) revoked the NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) that had suspended civilian flight operations across key airports in northern and northwestern India until May 15. The NOTAMs were originally issued on May 7 following heightened military activity along the border.

The reopening order was issued early Monday (May 12), with an official confirmation of flight resumption expected shortly. Commercial airlines have not yet resumed operations, but are expected to restart services in a phased manner.

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The temporary shutdown affected several strategically and commercially important airports such as Leh, Amritsar, Srinagar, Jammu, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Chandigarh, and Bhuj, among others. The closure disrupted schedules across the aviation sector, leading to the cancellation of more than 500 flights, with airlines offering full refunds and rebooking options to impacted passengers.

Full list of reopened airports:

Adampur

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

Heightened security measures are in place

While air operations resume, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has directed stringent security protocols across all Indian airports. As per PTI, the measures, in place until May 18, include:

Secondary Ladder Point Checks (SLPC) for all passengers before boarding.

No visitor entry into terminal buildings.

Compulsory surveillance camera functionality across all airport zones.

Priority-based deployment of security personnel, including random checks onboard aircraft.

Enhanced CISF control over cargo screening and in-line hold baggage systems at 69 civil airports.

These instructions follow heightened security alerts, including incidents in Pahalgam, and are part of precautionary steps in light of the evolving security situation. As airlines await final clearance to resume flights to the reopened airports, passengers are advised to stay in touch with their carriers for updated schedules and guidelines.

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