The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has extended the suspension of domestic flights at 32 airports until 5:29 AM on May 14, due to increased tensions between India and Pakistan. This decision has been made for security reasons, and flights will not be operating from these facilities. This move affects airports in sensitive and border areas, where security measures have been intensified.
Major airports in Punjab such as Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda, Halwara, and Pathankot will remain closed. Himachal Pradesh's Bhuntar, Shimla, Kangra-Gaggal airports will also be shut down, alongside the Union Territory's Chandigarh airport. Airports in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh including Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, along with Rajasthan's Kishangarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Gujarat's Mundra, Jamnagar, Hirasar, Porbandar, Keshod, Kandla, Bhuj airports will remain closed.
Source: aajtak
Airlines' Reactions
Air India and IndiGo have canceled several flights to these airports. IndiGo has shared links for customers to check flight status, rebook or seek refunds. Following precise strikes by India on terrorist camps in Pakistan and POK, relations between the nations have been severely strained. Amidst this, a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued. Pakistan targeted areas in Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan with drones and missiles last night.
Airports Ceasing Operations:
1. Adampur 2. Ambala 3. Amritsar 4. Awantipor 5. Bathinda 6. Bhuj 7. Bikaner 8. Chandigarh 9. Halwara 10. Hindon 11. Jaisalmer 12. Jammu 13. Jamnagar 14. Jodhpur 15. Kandla 16. Kangra (Gaggal) 17. Keshod 18. Kishangarh 19. Kullu Manali (Bhuntar) 20. Leh 21. Ludhiana 22. Mundra 23. Naliya 24. Pathankot 25. Patiala 26. Porbandar 27. Rajkot (Hirasar) 28. Saraswa 29. Shimla 30. Srinagar 31. Thoise 32. Uttarlai
Robust Security Measures
- Secondary Ladder Point Check (SLPC) is mandatory for all passengers.
- Visitor entries have been completely suspended.
- Deployment of air marshals is underway.
- Airlines have requested passengers to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure.
Just a day earlier, several aviation companies issued travel advisories for their passengers, announcing the closure of 27 airports nationwide due to warlike conditions. Air India advised passengers to reach the airport three hours early and stated that check-in would close 75 minutes before departure.
