The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) to reopen 32 airports across northern and western India for civilian flight operations, days after their temporary closure amid escalating tensions with Pakistan. The airspace restrictions were imposed following India’s precision strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor on 7 May.
AAI officials confirmed that the NOTAMs, which are formal notifications to aviation stakeholders about significant changes in airspace conditions, were issued on Monday. An AAI official said, “The process of issuing NOTAMs to all airports is ongoing and will be notified soon.”
Airports including those under the Mumbai Flight Information Region such as Mundra, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Kandla, Keshod, and Bhuj have been reopened, the official added. A separate NOTAM was issued for reopening 25 international flight routes that had been closed during the heightened military standoff.
The affected airports also include Srinagar, Jammu, Hindon, Sarsawa, Uttarlai, Awantipur, Ambala, Kullu, Ludhiana, Kishangarh, Patiala, Shimla, Kangra, Bathinda, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Halwara, Pathankot, Leh, and Chandigarh. The NOTAMs indicate that these airports have now been notified to resume operations.
According to the AAI, reopening an airport is a relatively quick process, though airlines may take longer to resume normal flight operations as they adjust their schedules. “Reopening an airport is not a time-consuming process. The airlines have to plan their flights, which takes time,” the official said.
Also read: 32 airports closed for civilian flight operations: DGCA
Flight routes for these airports have been reissued, but it may take several hours before airlines start using them, according to a second AAI official.
The decision to reopen these airports and routes comes after the Indian Air Force (IAF) reported a largely peaceful night across Jammu and Kashmir and other areas along the International Border. “The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir and other areas along the International Border. No incidents have been reported, marking the first calm night in recent days,” the IAF said in a statement.
The airports were initially closed following Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes on 7 May that targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and PoK in retaliation for the 22 April terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.
Security protocols remain tightened at airports across the country, with the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) extending its advisory until 18 May, requiring additional passenger and baggage checks at boarding gates. The advisory also barred visitors from entering airport premises and suspended the sale of visitor tickets.
Many airlines had rerouted flights to Europe, the US, and Canada through southern air corridors, bypassing Pakistani airspace. Passengers have been advised to arrive at airports at least three hours before scheduled departures to ensure smooth check-in and boarding.
List of airports to reopen:
- Adhampu
- Ambala
- Amritsar
- Awantipur
- Bathinda
- Bhuj
- Bikaner
- Chandigarh
- Halwara
- Hindon
- Jaisalmer
- Jammu
- Jamnagar
- Jodhpur
- Kandla
- Kangra (Gaggal)
- Keshod
- Kishangarh
- Kullu Manali (Bhuntar)
- Leh
- Ludhiana
- Mundra
- Naliya
- Pathankot
- Patiala
- Porbandar
- Rajkot (Hirasar)
- Sarsawa
- Shimla
- Srinagar
- Thoise
- Uttarlai
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