32 Indian Airports Reopen as India-Pakistan Tensions Ease

New Delhi, May 12, 2025 – India has reopened 32 airports across northern and western regions, including critical hubs in Srinagar, Jammu, and Leh, signaling a cautious step toward normalcy after a week of intense military standoff with Pakistan. The move, announced by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), follows a US-mediated ceasefire that has held since May 10, offering relief to travelers stranded since Operation Sindoor.

Key Airports Back Online

The AAI canceled Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) on May 12, restoring civilian flights at 32 airports, many near the India-Pakistan border or Indian Air Force bases, per Indian Express. Key hubs include:

• Jammu & Kashmir: Srinagar, Jammu, and Leh resumed operations, with Air India Express restarting Jammu–Delhi and Srinagar–Delhi routes, per New Indian Express.
• Punjab: Amritsar welcomed international flights, including Amritsar–Dubai, while Pathankot prioritized civilian traffic, per India Today.
• Rajasthan: Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Bikaner saw IndiGo and Air India flights restart, per Hindustan Times.
  Other airports include Chandigarh, Ambala, Ludhiana, Bhuj, Jamnagar, and Shimla, per AAI.

Travel Guidelines

Airlines and authorities have issued advisories to ensure smooth operations, per India Today:

• Enhanced Security: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) mandates Secondary Ladder Point Checks (SLPC) for all passengers. Arrive at least 3 hours before departure.
• Flight Status: Check with airlines, as schedules are adjusting. IndiGo reported Delhi–Chandigarh and Delhi–Jammu flights resumed on May 12, with more to follow, per Indian Express.
• Safety First: AAI emphasizes passenger safety, with no disruptions reported since the Indian Air Force noted a calm night on May 11–12, per NDTV.

Airlines’ Relaunch Plans

Major carriers are phasing in flights, per New Indian Express:

• IndiGo: Restored Delhi–Srinagar–Leh and Delhi–Amritsar routes, with plans to expand over days.
• Air India Express: Resumed Hindon–Bengaluru, Jammu–Srinagar, and Amritsar–Dubai flights, with Hindon–Mumbai starting May 13.
• Vistara: Restarted Mumbai–Jammu services, prioritizing passenger convenience.

Over 430 flights were canceled during the May 9–14 closure, impacting 3% of India’s daily air traffic, per India TV. X posts show public relief, with one user saying, “Flights back on, time to travel again,” per @nabilajamal_.

Why the Reopening?

The decision follows a US-mediated ceasefire on May 10, after Operation Sindoor’s May 7 strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoJK, killing 100 terrorists in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, per India Today. Pakistan’s May 8 drone attacks on 15 Indian cities, including Srinagar and Amritsar, were repelled by S-400 systems, but a May 11 ceasefire violation killed five in Rajouri, per NDTV. The Indian Air Force’s report of no border activity on May 11–12 prompted the AAI to lift restrictions, per Hindustan Times.

What’s Next?

While Pakistan’s airspace sees limited civilian traffic, per Flightradar24, India-Pakistan DGMO talks continue to stabilize the ceasefire, per India Today. Travelers should monitor @AAI_Official on X for updates, as airlines like IndiGo and Air India gradually restore full schedules, per Indian Express. The reopening eases a travel crisis that stranded tourists, with Indian Railways running special trains from Jammu, per Bhaskar English.

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