Key Takeaways
• Operation Sindoor closes 32 Indian airports until May 15, 2025, disrupting travel and business nationwide.
• Heightened airport security includes mandatory early arrival, photo ID, baggage limits, and second security checks for all travelers.
• International flights face detours and delays as Pakistan closes airspace; domestic routes lose over 11% of daily flights.
Military tensions between India 🇮🇳 and Pakistan 🇵🇰 have triggered major changes at Indian airports, affecting not only local travelers but also families, workers, and tourists around the world. As part of what officials call “Operation Sindoor,” 32 airports in northern and western India 🇮🇳 have stopped handling regular flights until May 15, 2025. This pause, lasting for almost a whole year, has forced many airlines to change their regular plans, causing headaches and losses for thousands of people. The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced and enforced these closures to keep people safe during these uncertain times.
Let’s take a deep look at these airport closures, what new rules travelers face, and how both flyers and the businesses that depend on them are feeling the effects.
Which Indian Airports Are Closed?
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has listed 32 airports in India 🇮🇳 that will stay closed to regular flights up to 5:29 am on May 15, 2025. The main goal is to make sure that military plans and national safety take top priority, given the rising tensions between the two neighbors. The airports shut down cover an important part of the country, touching both busy cities and smaller towns. The full list includes:
- 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
Almost all of these airports serve people who rely on easy travel for work, family visits, business, and holidays. With their shutdown, local communities face trouble getting in and out, and nearby businesses that depend on visitors are also struggling.
Heightened Security Across All Airports
The airport closures are not the only actions taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other government bodies. Every airport in India 🇮🇳, even those still open for flights, now has stricter safety rules. This is to make sure no one is at risk and that any possible threats can be managed properly.
Here are key security rules you should know if you are traveling:
- Arrive Early: All passengers need to be at the airport at least three hours before their flight is scheduled to leave. This gives time for the increased checks and longer lines expected at security gates.
- Photo Identification: You must carry a valid, government-approved photo ID to get into the airport buildings. Without it, you cannot enter.
- Baggage Limits: Each person can only bring one handbag—no heavier than 7 kg—on the plane, besides what is checked in at the counter.
- Extra Checks: Everyone must undergo a second round of security checks before boarding. These checks are now mandatory and are performed on all passengers, not just a random sample.
- No Visitors: Friends and relatives who come to see you off, or pick you up, are not allowed inside the airport buildings. The sale of entry tickets for visitors is on hold until further notice.
These steps may seem hard, but officials say they are important to keep travelers, workers, and airplanes safe during this tense time.
Airlines, Flight Timings, and Passenger Experience
The shutdown order under Operation Sindoor quickly caused airlines to shuffle their plans. India’s 🇮🇳 biggest carriers—like IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air—had to cancel and reschedule hundreds of flights each day. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, about 11% of all domestic flights (that is more than 670 routes) across India 🇮🇳 face delays, reroutes, or cancellations because of these moves.
The impact is clear at major Indian airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. For example, on one day alone at Delhi’s airport, 138 flights could not take off or land: 66 domestic departures, 63 domestic arrivals, and 9 from or to other countries. While these larger hubs still work, the extra security slows down the usual flow, making it important for travelers to plan ahead and expect delays.
Because Pakistan 🇵🇰 has also closed its airspace for now, flights leaving India 🇮🇳 for Europe, North America, and other far-off places cannot take the usual, shorter routes. Planes now go south over Oman 🇴🇲, the UAE 🇦🇪, and the Arabian Sea to steer clear of any conflict areas. This detour easily adds between 2 to 2.5 hours to the journey for many long flights. International travelers mostly face longer flights and some delays, but fewer outright cancellations.
Domestic air travel, especially to cities and towns served by the closed airports, is facing the greatest trouble. Smaller airports, where options are already limited, now see no regular flights at all. For many, this means using expensive or time-consuming trains and buses, or even giving up on travel plans altogether.
VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that these sudden changes have left airlines, airport staff, and support services scrambling to adjust. For official statistics and updates on how Indian airports are operating under these rules, you can visit the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s website.
Travel and Tourism—Plans on Hold
These airport closures could not have come at a worse time for travelers. May and June are usually some of the busiest months at Indian airports, as families take advantage of school holidays and students return from distant colleges for their break. Many families also use these months to plan big trips to other countries or to visit relatives abroad.
With flights cancelled or delayed, many people have been forced to cancel or put off their summer holidays. This has caused money losses for families who cannot get back non-refundable hotel bookings or tour tickets. Travel agents and online booking companies are also dealing with upset customers who want refunds or help rearranging plans. Many folks who rely on last-minute tickets or flexible plans are simply missing out this year.
On the business side, hotels, restaurants, cab drivers, and tourist shops in cities near the affected airports face a sudden drop in visitors. Their summer earnings are likely to be much lower than expected, especially in famous places like Amritsar and Leh.
Inbound Tourism: Warnings and Worries
The effects of Operation Sindoor go both ways; it is not just Indians 🇮🇳 who are changing their plans. Foreign visitors now face tough choices, too. The airport closures, along with travel warnings from countries like the United States 🇺🇸, United Kingdom 🇬🇧, Canada 🇨🇦, Australia 🇦🇺, and Singapore 🇸🇬, are making people rethink trips to India 🇮🇳. These governments have cautioned their citizens about traveling to certain regions, especially near the India-Pakistan border.
Tour operators who specialize in arranging trips to India 🇮🇳 have reported slower bookings and increased cancellations. The number of tourists from abroad is expected to drop sharply during what is usually a busy season. This will likely have long-lasting effects, especially in places that depend on foreign visitors.
What Sparked Operation Sindoor?
Operation Sindoor did not come out of nowhere. The shutdowns and extra security rules are a direct response to an attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, which killed 26 innocent people. In reply, India 🇮🇳 conducted strikes on May 7 against terror camps in Pakistan 🇵🇰 and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, leading to even more tension. These events led directly to the closure of these 32 Indian airports by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
While the strikes were aimed at stopping terror activity, the aftereffects are being felt by ordinary people—travelers, students, business owners, and local families—on both sides of the border.
Looking Ahead: Who is Affected Next?
If you are a traveler with plans in or out of India 🇮🇳 in the coming months, it is wise to check your flight status well ahead of time. Airline websites and the official Ministry of Civil Aviation page provide the latest updates. You may face longer travel times, less choice in flights, and stricter security at Indian airports.
For families in smaller cities and remote areas, the lack of flights means relying on trains, buses, or private vehicles for now. Travel agents and businesses that count on a steady stream of visitors need to adapt quickly or face financial trouble.
International students and workers who planned to travel home for summer break may struggle to find affordable and convenient routes. This is especially true if their homes are near any of the closed airports.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, continued airport closures could also have deeper impacts. Airlines may raise ticket prices on routes not affected by closures, as demand for the few remaining seats rises. Local economies, especially in smaller towns, could feel the pinch for many months if closures continue as planned.
Different Views and Reactions
While some people support the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Operation Sindoor because they feel more protected, others are deeply frustrated. Many families with urgent reasons for travel, like weddings, illnesses, or family emergencies, feel unfairly caught up in political tensions. Business leaders, tourist groups, and student associations worry that the closures will scare away investment, hurt the tourism sector, and make it harder for talented young people to pursue education or work opportunities.
Some travel industry experts think the tough rules are needed for now but hope that if things settle down, relief could come before May 2025. Others are less sure, saying past events show these types of measures can last much longer than first expected.
Summary and Next Steps
Operation Sindoor and the closure of 32 Indian airports mark a serious moment in the region’s recent history. The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s actions aim to put safety first amid growing military concerns. While big international airports like Delhi and Mumbai still operate, the ripple effect of flight cancellations, longer journeys, stricter rules, and travel warnings means everyone feels the change, from casual vacationers to business executives and local workers.
If you have travel plans touching any part of India 🇮🇳, be ready for shorter tempers, longer waits, and possible last-minute changes. Patience, planning, and staying up-to-date with official announcements are your best tools. Be sure to check with airlines and the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s website for the latest on Indian airports, entry rules, and travel safety.
The hope among many travelers and businesses is that things will calm down and normal movement will soon return. Until then, everyone touched by these changes needs to keep up with the news and plan carefully in a rapidly changing time.
Learn Today
Operation Sindoor → A government initiative closing 32 airports in India until May 2025 for national security amid military tensions with Pakistan.
Ministry of Civil Aviation → The Indian government body overseeing civil aviation operations, airline regulations, and airport management across the country.
Airspace closure → A ban on aircraft using certain flight routes, often implemented for security during conflicts or emergencies.
Secondary security checks → A mandatory additional inspection process for all passengers before boarding, intended to strengthen safety at airports.
Inbound tourism → Travel by residents of other countries into India, involving international visitors for leisure, business, or family reasons.
This Article in a Nutshell
Operation Sindoor has closed 32 Indian airports until May 2025, disrupting travel and commerce for millions. Security is tight at all airports, with strict rules on baggage, ID, and check-ins. Both international and domestic flights are impacted, with airlines rerouting or canceling flights, especially during India’s busy summer travel season.
— By VisaVerge.com
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