Delhi airport operations normal; some flights may get impacted: DIAL

Amidst escalated border tensions with Pakistan, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Saturday said that operations at the Delhi Airport are currently normal, though some flights might be impacted due to the evolving airspace conditions. A total of 138 flights were reportedly cancelled at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday, and many flights were diverted following the closure of 24 airports amid heightened tensions with Pakistan.

"Delhi airport operations continue to remain normal. However, due to evolving airspace conditions and enhanced security measures, as per the orders of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, some flight schedules may be impacted and security checkpoint processing times may take longer," DIAL said in a post on X.

Passengers have also been advised to arrive early to accommodate potential delays at security checkpoints, the statement said. It added that passengers are advised to stay informed and check flight status via their respective airlines or the official Delhi airport website.

“We urge all passengers to rely solely on official sources for accurate information and avoid sharing unverified content,” it said.

The government on Friday extended the closure of 24 airports across the country till May 15, 2025, amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

Following the latest directive on the closure of airports, Air India in a X post said that in view of an order by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security on enhanced measures at airports, passengers across India are advised to arrive at their respective airports at least three hours prior to scheduled departure to ensure smooth check-in and boarding. Check-in closes 75 minutes before departure.

“Air India flights to and from these nine airports—Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot are being cancelled till 0529 hours on 15 May. However, this is an evolving situation, and we request customers to check our official social media handles for the latest updates,” the Tata group-owned airline said in a release yesterday.

“Customers holding valid tickets for travel during this period will be offered a one-time waiver on rescheduling charges or a full refund for cancellations,” it added.

In a similar post, IndiGo said that the flights to/from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Rajkot, Jodhpur, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Chandigarh, and Kishangarh will remain cancelled until 0529 hrs on 15th May.

“Due to the ongoing situation, our flights to and from Leh (IXL), Srinagar (SXR), Jammu (IXJ), Dharamshala (DHM), Kandla (IXY), Amritsar (ATQ), and Porbandar (PBD) are cancelled till 15th May’25 up to 0529 hrs,” SpiceJet said in a post.

“Due to enhanced security measures at all airports across India, we request you to reach the airport at least three hours prior to departure, to ensure a seamless check-in and boarding experience. Please ensure you carry valid government approved photo identification documents for entry to the airport,” Akasa Air said in a statement.  

“In addition to your check-in baggage, only one hand bag weighing up to 7 kgs will be permitted. As per regulatory guidelines, all passengers will be required to undergo secondary security checks prior to boarding,” it added.