Operation Sindoor: 32 airports shut across north, west India till May 15

New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India has expanded the number of airport closures in northern and western regions to 32, up from an earlier count of 24, according to Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). These closures are scheduled to remain in effect until 5:29 am on May 15.

Sources indicated that this is the first instance since Operation Sindhoor that airports in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have been included in such restrictions.

Officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation reportedly confirmed on Saturday morning that all civil flight operations at the affected airports will be suspended for the duration of the closure.

The newly added airports are Adampur (Punjab), Ambala (Haryana), Awantipur (Jammu & Kashmir), Hindon (Uttar Pradesh), Naliya (Gujarat), Thoise (Ladakh), Sarsawa (Uttar Pradesh), and Uttarlai (Rajasthan).

The previously announced 24 airports that will remain shut till 15 May are:

The 24 airports that were previously shut include Srinagar, Jammu (J&K); Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bhatinda, Halwara, and Pathankot (Punjab); Bhuntar, Shimla, and Kangra-Gaggal (Himachal Pradesh); Kishangarh (Rajasthan); Leh (Ladakh); Mundra, Jamnagar, Hirasar, Porbandar, Keshod, Kandla, and Bhuj (Gujarat); Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Bikaner (Rajasthan).

Additionally, the Airports Authority of India has temporarily closed 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions (FIRs), citing operational reasons, TNIE reported.

Officials noted that these route segments will not be accessible from ground level up to unlimited altitude until 5:29 am on May 15.

Airlines and flight operators have reportedly been instructed to arrange alternate flight paths based on current air traffic guidance. Authorities emphasized that the temporary restrictions are being handled in coordination with air traffic control units to ensure safety and reduce potential disruption.