Operation Sindoor: IndiGo scraps flights in 11 cities, Mumbai ATC chokes, Lucknow issues passenger alert

Indian airports are witnessing heightened security and partial shutdowns after a drone strike by Pakistan on Thursday targeted several cities in Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan. In response, India carried out airstrikes on nine terror infrastructures operated by Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Following this escalation, a countrywide alert has been issued. Several airports have suspended operations while airlines have cancelled many flights due to airspace restrictions in the northern and western parts of India.

Flight cancellations and advisories

A total of 138 flights have been cancelled so far due to the security situation. Major Indian airlines including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have confirmed cancellations and delays for the next few days. Passengers flying to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, and Rajkot will be affected, with all flights to these destinations cancelled until 23:59 hours of May 10, 2025, according to an update by IndiGo on X (formerly Twitter).

Airlines have also announced one-time waivers for flight rescheduling charges and have provided guidance on availing refunds. They have advised travellers to contact their respective airlines for accurate, up-to-date information.

Impact on key airports

The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi has increased its security arrangements following the drone attack. Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) is witnessing a surge in traffic due to rerouting of international flights, as Pakistani airspace remains closed since last month.

In Gujarat, airports in seven cities have been shut down, namely Jamnagar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Porbandar, Keshod, Kandla, Bhuj, and Mundra (Adani). These closures are contributing to the widespread disruption of flight operations.

Lucknow airport guidelines

The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow remains operational but has issued an advisory for passengers. In light of increased security protocols, the airport has warned of longer wait times. Travellers have been urged to:

• Arrive early for security checks
• Cooperate with staff and follow official updates
• Check social media channels and contact airlines for real-time updates

National response measures

Security at all airports has been intensified. A multi-layered air defence network has been activated as part of India’s response strategy. The situation remains dynamic, and passengers are advised to stay alert and informed through verified sources.