Indian Airports Halt Operations Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
Flights Suspension Announced at 24 Airports in India-Pakistan Border due to Tensions Escalation
In the face of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, airlines in India have temporarily halted flights from 24 airports across northern and western regions. This follows the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry's decision to close these airports as confirmed in a statement on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority reported the resumption of flights at four airports that were previously suspended.
The affected airports, including Amritsar in northern Punjab and Srinagar in India- controlled Kashmir, will remain closed until Saturday. Notably, Indigo—the country's largest domestic carrier— cancelled 165 flights, and Air India and Air India Express experienced a similar number of cancellations. Air India diverted two of its international flights en route from Amritsar towards Lahore to New Delhi due to the abrupt closure of the airport.
India and Pakistan stand at the brink of a fresh military crisis, following India's missile strikes inside Pakistani territory on Wednesday. These strikes targeted what India called terror training camps as retaliation for the massacre of 26 Indian tourists in India-controlled Kashmir last month. The Indian government accuses Pakistan of supporting the gunmen, a charge that Pakistan denies.
After the killings, the two countries swiftly closed their respective airspaces, and India shut some of its airports. The cancellation of flights has inevitably caused inconvenience for passengers.
Rahul, a 32-year-old Indian businessman who uses one name, experienced the consequences of these airport closures firsthand. His flight from Dubai to Chandigarh was cancelled on Wednesday due to the airport closure. The airline offered him a rescheduled flight to Delhi and then a bus ride to Chandigarh, expressing understanding for the security concerns at hand.
[Sources: AP News, 1, 2, 3, 4]
Insights
- Airport Closures: The Indian government temporarily closed 27 airports in northern and western regions, impacting flights to and from these areas. This disruption affects sensitive regions near the Pakistan border, including airports in cities such as Amritsar, Srinagar, Ludhiana, Shimla, Dharamsala, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Bikaner.
- Flight Cancellations: Over 430 flights have been cancelled as a result of the airport closures, affecting approximately 3% of India's total scheduled flights.
- Travel Advisories: Indian airlines have issued travel advisories to passengers, urging caution and providing updates on flight status due to ongoing tensions.
- After the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry's decision to close several airports following India-Pakistan tensions, airlines like Indigo, Air India, and Air India Express cancelled 165, a similar number of flights, respectively.
- The resumption of flights at four airports in Pakistan does not seem to have influenced the temporary closure of airports in India, including Amritsar and Srinagar, which will remain shut until Saturday.
- In the context of the political and general news, the Indian government's decision to halt operations at 27 airports could be linked to the fresh military crisis that evolved following India's missile strikes on Pakistani territory.
- As a result of the closures, travelers like Rahul, a businessman from India, have experienced cancellations and inconvenience, such as being offered rescheduled flights to an alternate airport and further transportation to their final destination.
