24 airports to remain shut till May 15: Air India, IndiGo cancel flights

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, IndiGo , the country's biggest airline, said all flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Rajkot, Jodhpur, and Kishangarh will remain cancelled until 0529 hours on May 15.

“These precautionary measures have been instituted with your safety and security as our highest priority,” the Gurugram-based airline said in a statement. “We remain fully committed to providing you with unwavering support while navigating this situation together,” it said.

After the notification from aviation authorities on continued closure of multiple airports in India, Tata Group-owned Air India said flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Bhuj, Jamnagar and Rajkot are being cancelled till 0529 hours IST on May 15, pending further updates. 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 said.

The 24 shut airports across India include 2 airports in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, 1 in Ladakh, 4 airports in Punjab, 3 airports in Himachal Pradesh, 4 airports in Rajasthan, 7 airports in Gujarat, 1 in Uttar Pradesh, 1 in Madhya Pradesh and the Chandigarh International Airport.

The extension of airport closure comes a day after airlines urged air passengers to reach the airport at least three hours before their flights due to the heightened security measures amid India-Pakistan tensions.

IndiGo in an advisory on Thursday night said, “In these extraordinary times, heightened security measures are taken up across all airports. We request you to allow some extra time for your journey to accommodate security checks and formalities. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.”

Tata Group-owned Air India, too, has asked flyers to arrive at least three hours prior to scheduled departure to ensure smooth check-in and boarding. “In view of an order by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) 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 mins before departure,” said Air India.

Budget carrier SpiceJet has also asked passengers to reach the airport at least 3 hours before departure, as per BCAS guidelines, to ensure timely security checks and boarding.

Another low-cost carrier Akasa Air said, “Due to enhanced security measures at all airports across India, we request you to reach the airport at least 3 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. In addition to your check-in baggage, only 1 hand bag weighing upto 7 kgs will be permitted. As per regulatory guidelines, all passengers will be required to undergo secondary security checks prior to boarding.”