New Delhi, May 11 – Air travel faced significant disruption on Sunday as around 100 flights to and from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were cancelled due to heightened security and airspace restrictions following the recent military escalation between India and Pakistan.
Enhanced Security Shuts Down 32 Airports Temporarily
A source revealed that increased security measures led to the temporary shutdown of at least 32 airports in northern and western India. These actions were taken as precautionary steps in response to the cross-border tensions, even though both nations agreed on Saturday to cease all military actions across land, air, and sea.Major Disruptions in Domestic Air Travel
Between 5:00 am and 4:30 pm, Delhi Airport saw the cancellation of 97 flights, including 52 domestic departures, 44 arrivals, and one international departure. The disruptions left many passengers stranded and caused widespread delays across India’s aviation network.Delhi Airport Issues Statement
Despite the cancellations, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which manages IGIA, stated operations remain ongoing with some delays expected due to revised airspace protocols."Delhi Airport is operating normally. However, due to changes in airspace dynamics and increased security measures, some flight schedules and security checkpoint processing times may be affected," DIAL said in a post on X.
As India’s busiest airport, IGIA is a critical hub in the country’s aviation system, and any disruption here has a cascading effect on national and international travel.