New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has announced the reopening of 32 airports across northern and western parts of the country that were shut in the wake of mounting tension between India and Pakistan.
The two countries had on Saturday reached a ceasefire understanding to stop military action.
“It is informed that these airports are now available for civil aircraft operations with immediate effect. It is recommended for travellers to check flight status directly with airlines and monitor airline websites for regular updates,” the AAI said in its notice.
Airports in major cities, such as Ambala, Amritsar, Bhuj, Bikaner, Chandigarh, Hindon, Jaisalmer, Jammu, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Porbandar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Shimla and Srinagar had remained shut since the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7, forcing airlines to cancel hundreds of flights.
On the morning of May 7, India had shut these airports until 5.29 am on May 10. The closure was later extended to 5.29 am on May 15.
According to aviation industry sources, about 1,500 flights were scheduled to operate to and from these 32 airports between May 7 and Monday morning. These flights had to be cancelled due to the closure.
IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, on Monday posted on X that in line with the “latest government directives”, the airports were open for flight operations.
“We will progressively commence operations on the previously closed routes. As services gradually return to normal, there may still be a few delays and last-minute adjustments. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as our teams work diligently to restore seamless operations,” it added.
The decision to reopen airports and routes was taken after the Indian Air Force (IAF) early on Monday said “no activities” were reported in the border areas.
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“The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir and other areas along the International Border. No incidents have been reported, marking the first calm night in recent days,” said the IAF in a statement.
