Summary
- Air India and IndiGo cancelled flights to seven border cities on May 13 despite airports reopening post-ceasefire.
- Civilian air travel in areas like Srinagar, Jammu, and Amritsar remains volatile due to lingering tensions.
- Operation Sindoor’s fallout has kept Indian skies on alert even after ceasefire implementation.
Flying on Unsettled Air: Ceasefire Reached, But Skies Still Closed
Days after India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire to halt escalating military operations, India’s major airlines—Air India and IndiGo—cancelled flights to and from seven sensitive border cities, citing ongoing safety concerns. The cancellations include crucial hubs like Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, and Chandigarh, just 24 hours after airports had officially reopened for civilian operations.
The announcements reveal a key paradox: while diplomacy may declare peace, logistics remain guided by the inertia of conflict. For the thousands stranded or rescheduling flights on May 13, the India-Pakistan ceasefire remains more political theory than practical reality.
Operation Sindoor’s strategic aftershocks continue to dictate the airspace narrative. With both countries having exchanged drone and missile strikes just days ago, caution—rather than optimism—is the driving force in civil aviation corridors near the Line of Control.
#TravelAdvisory
— Air India (@airindia) May 12, 2025
In view of the latest developments and keeping your safety in mind, flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot are cancelled for Tuesday, 13th May.
We are monitoring the situation and will keep you updated.
For more…
Civilian Skies Remain Volatile Post-Strike
- IndiGo and Air India suspended all operations to seven border cities, including Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, and Rajkot.
- These locations had only just reopened after a military alert grounded 32 airports last week.
- Airlines cited “passenger safety” and “ongoing developments” as reasons for the sudden cancellations.
- Indian airspace along the western frontier remains under strategic monitoring.
On May 13, both Air India and IndiGo publicly posted advisories warning of cancelled operations to border-facing zones. These included cities like Leh and Amritsar, which are logistically crucial to northern India and frequented by both military personnel and tourists. The advisory stated clearly that this was a precautionary move “in light of the latest developments,” without referring directly to Pakistan or the ceasefire.
Earlier, the Airports Authority of India had reopened 32 airports after a temporary closure following Pakistan’s missile and drone launches into western India. These included military-civilian shared airports like Bathinda, Bikaner, Awantipur, and Thoise—facilities often activated during national security events.
But the rapid rollback in airline scheduling shows the extent of operational uncertainty. Peace may be declared on paper, but when it comes to managing airspace over potential flashpoints, risk perception continues to drive decisions more than declarations.
Operation Sindoor’s Echoes in the Skies
- The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26, sparking Operation Sindoor and the largest Indian cross-border strike since Balakot.
- India targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and PoK, triggering a retaliatory but intercepted drone strike from Pakistan.
- India then escalated to precision military strikes targeting radar, depots, and command centers deep inside Pakistan.
- Though a ceasefire was announced May 11, the psychological and tactical fallout continues.
The aviation industry is navigating a highly dynamic scenario shaped by the spillover of military strategy into civil infrastructure. The back-and-forth escalation from April 22 to May 11 marked the most intense episode of military exchange since the 2019 Balakot strike.
Even though India and Pakistan agreed to halt all hostilities on land, air, and sea, the timing of the flight cancellations underscores how fragile such agreements remain. Airlines must evaluate threats minute-by-minute, and the mere existence of ceasefire talks does not translate into risk-free operations for pilots and passengers.
The broader implication? Operation Sindoor has introduced a new level of unpredictability in the India-Pakistan conflict matrix. Civilian infrastructure, once seen as peripheral, is now a frontline signal of regional volatility.
Air Safety vs. Air Sovereignty: A Delicate Balance
- Air India and IndiGo said they were “monitoring the situation” and promised updates on travel disruption.
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation has not issued a no-fly directive, suggesting airlines acted on internal risk assessments.
- The incident underscores the need for a coordinated security-aviation doctrine in future conflicts.
- Air travel in border zones will remain volatile until peace is institutional, not just announced.
Unlike a government-imposed no-fly zone, these cancellations came from the airlines themselves—a sign that the private sector is now actively integrating real-time geopolitical assessments into commercial decision-making. With civil aviation becoming an increasingly exposed domain in asymmetric conflicts, carriers are no longer just logistical operators; they are de facto stakeholders in national security.
Experts suggest the Indian government may soon need to develop a doctrine that bridges military readiness with civil aviation continuity. As India continues to modernize its intelligence and air surveillance through projects like SBS-3, the protection of civilian aviation must be part of the counterterrorism equation—not an afterthought.
Grounded Flights, Grounded Trust
Flight cancellations may seem like minor inconveniences in the wake of cross-border hostilities, but they are telling. They reveal that real peace in South Asia is still aspirational, where even travel becomes hostage to geopolitics.
Until peace agreements transcend ceasefire declarations and enter airspace guarantees, India’s border regions will remain in a holding pattern—symbolically reopened, but practically on pause. For now, the skies are clear—but the tension lingers.
