Air India and IndiGo Cancel Flights Amid Heightened Tensions: What Travelers Need to Know

Several North Indian cities experienced flight cancellations by Air India and IndiGo on Tuesday, May 13, according to various media outlets. This disruption followed the Airports Authority of India's (AAI) decision to reopen 32 airports in northern and western India for civilian flights. These airports had been closed until May 15 due to heightened border tensions between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor.

Air India announced it was suspending all two-way flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot. IndiGo also cancelled its services to and from Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar, and Rajkot.

IndiGo released a statement on X, explaining that the cancellations were made with passenger safety as the top priority, given recent events.

“We understand how this may disrupt your travel plans, and regret the inconvenience caused. Our teams are actively monitoring the situation and will promptly keep you informed of further updates."

The airline advised passengers to check their flight status on the IndiGo website or app before heading to the airport. The statement also noted that assistance was available via message or call.

An IndiGo flight headed to Amritsar on Monday evening had to return to Delhi. News agency PTI reported that this was due to precautionary blackout measures being announced in Amritsar.

Air India also communicated the flight cancellations via the social media platform X.

“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."

The airline added that they were closely monitoring the situation and would provide updates as they became available.

Amidst the flight cancellations by IndiGo and Air India to various cities on Tuesday, May 13, Delhi Airport issued a five-point advisory for travelers, as reported by Mint. The airport also urged passengers to rely only on official sources for information and to avoid spreading unverified news.

The advisory included several key points for travelers.

Passengers were advised to stay informed by checking for updates from their respective airlines. They were also reminded to adhere to regulations regarding hand baggage and check-in luggage.

Arriving early was recommended to allow for potential delays at security checkpoints. Cooperation with airline and security staff was also encouraged to ensure smooth processing.

Finally, passengers were advised to check their flight status through their airline or the official Delhi Airport website.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) announced on Monday the resumption of civil flight operations at 32 airports across northern and western India. These airports had been temporarily closed, with the closures extended until May 15, due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

IndiGo resumed flights on Monday on the Delhi–Chandigarh, Delhi–Jammu, and Delhi–Amritsar routes. Air India and its low-cost carrier Air India Express are also gradually restarting operations to cities such as Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, and Bhuj, according to reports. SpiceJet also indicated that it was working to restore its services from the affected airports.