New Delhi:
India on Monday reopened 32 airports that had been closed due to heightened military tensions with Pakistan, marking a return to normal air traffic in regions near the northern and western borders.
The decision follows a mutual agreement between New Delhi and Islamabad on Saturday to de-escalate the situation along the International Border after four days of conflict.
The temporary airspace restrictions, initially imposed by the Indian Air Force (IAF), had disrupted civil aviation operations across key cities including Chandigarh, Amritsar, and Jammu.
The reopening is expected to alleviate congestion in Indian airspace and restore normalcy for both domestic and international flight routes.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) announced:
“It is informed that 32 airports, which were temporarily closed for civil aircraft operations till 05:29 hrs of 15 May 2025, are now available for civil aircraft operations with immediate effect.”
Passengers have been advised to check their flight status directly with airlines and remain updated via official airline websites, as schedules normalize over the coming hours and days.
Airports Reopened for Civil Operations
The list of reopened airports includes:
Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, Jaisalmer, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Adampur, Ambala, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bhuj, Bikaner, Halwara, Hindon, Kandla, Kangra, Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu-Manali (Bhuntar), Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, Rajkot, Sarsawa, Shimla, Thoise, and Uttarlai.
Operations at Jammu and Srinagar airports, which had come under attack between May 7 and May 10, are also set to resume from Tuesday, according to the AAI.
Background
The original closure affected 24 airports, later expanding to 32, as tensions escalated.
A series of NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) were issued by the AAI, suspending all civil flight activity in affected areas. With hostilities easing, those NOTAMs have now been officially withdrawn.
Following India’s announcement, Pakistan also resumed operations at its domestic airports, lifting airspace restrictions and allowing commercial flights to operate freely once again.
