‘Safety First’: Air India, IndiGo Cancel Flights to Border Cities Amid Rising Tensions

NEW DELHI:
In light of recent cross-border tensions and as a precautionary measure, major Indian carriers Air India and IndiGo have cancelled flights to and from seven key cities on Tuesday, citing safety concerns.

The affected cities include Jammu, Srinagar, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Rajkot, and Jodhpur — most of them located near border regions or conflict-sensitive zones. The move comes even as civilian flight operations at several military-civil airports had resumed on Monday, following last week’s temporary shutdown.

Air India, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stated:

“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.”

IndiGo echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing passenger safety as the primary reason for its decision.

“We understand how this may disrupt your travel plans and regret the inconvenience caused. Our teams are actively monitoring the situation,” the airline said in a statement.

These developments come in the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, triggered by a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 that claimed 26 lives.

Following investigations linking the attack to cross-border elements, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The Indian Air Force reportedly struck nine major terror sites, eliminating over 100 militants affiliated with outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen. In retaliation, Pakistan launched drone and missile strikes targeting India’s western front, which were successfully intercepted by Indian defences.

India responded with deep-precision strikes on Pakistani military assets in Rafiqui, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Sialkot, targeting command centres and ammunition depots.

Following the intense military exchange, both countries reached a ceasefire agreement on Saturday, agreeing to immediately halt all hostilities. Subsequently, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) announced the reopening of 32 temporarily shut airports until May 15. These included airbases in Ambala, Adhampur, Halwara, Awantipur, and Pathankot, among others.

Despite the ceasefire, continued precautionary flight suspensions by major carriers suggest that security agencies remain on high alert, with aviation operations closely tied to ground realities in the region. Passengers are advised to check with airlines for the latest updates and plan travel accordingly.