Flight Disruptions Hit Delhi Airport Amid Heightened Tensions Between India and Pakistan
Air travel in northern India faced significant disruption on Sunday as approximately 100 flights to and from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) were cancelled due to heightened security measures and evolving airspace restrictions amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the cancellations affected both domestic and international operations. Between 5:00 AM and 4:30 PM, a total of 97 flights were cancelled, including 52 domestic departures, 44 domestic arrivals, and one international departure.
The disruptions were part of broader airspace management measures taken in response to the conflict-related situation over the weekend.
As a precautionary step, authorities temporarily shut down operations at at least 32 airports across northern and western India.
These measures were implemented to ensure safety and maintain national security in light of recent military exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
On Saturday, India and Pakistan had reached a mutual agreement to halt all forms of military engagement—including land, air, and naval operations—effective immediately.
Despite this understanding, the airspace remained tightly controlled on Sunday, prompting the temporary suspension of commercial flight operations at various airports.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which manages IGIA—the busiest airport in India—acknowledged the situation in a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
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,” the statement read.
While normal operations gradually resumed, the sudden cancellations caused inconvenience to many passengers and raised concerns over continued instability.
Airport authorities advised travelers to stay in touch with airlines for real-time updates and to allow extra time for security checks.
Officials emphasized that passenger safety remains the highest priority and that all decisions regarding air traffic management are being made in close coordination with defense and aviation authorities.
