Despite a recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, widespread air travel disruptions persist across northern and western parts of India. On Sunday, flight operations remained suspended at 24 airports, with at least 444 scheduled flights cancelled due to heightened security concerns and continued military alertness in sensitive regions.
Key northern airports including Amritsar, Srinagar, Jammu, Ladakh, Dharamshala, Shimla, Adampur, and Chandigarh remained non-operational. Aviation officials confirmed that all aircraft at these locations were removed as a precaution. Srinagar Airport has now seen seven straight days of inactivity, with 65 flights cancelled on Sunday alone. Leh’s Kaushik Airport halted all 30 of its daily flights, while Jammu Airport cancelled another 30.
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Chandigarh Airport reported the cancellation of 84 scheduled flights. Additional cancellations included 14 flights from Dharamshala, 20 each from Jodhpur and Rajkot Herasar, and 10 from Bhuj in Gujarat. Several other airports across central and western India also saw a complete halt in operations, compounding the national air traffic disruption.
The aviation freeze follows Pakistan’s reported retaliatory strike involving the Fateh-1 missile system. According to Pakistani military sources, a hypersonic missile launched from a JF-17 Thunder aircraft destroyed India’s S-400 air defence system at Adampur air base, a system estimated to be worth $1.5 billion.
These developments triggered a swift response from the international community, particularly the United States, which mediated to de-escalate tensions. A ceasefire was announced two days ago by both governments, but the on-ground situation remains tense.
Indian military installations remain on high alert in several northern states. Despite the diplomatic agreement, there has been no official statement from India’s Ministry of Defence or Civil Aviation Authority on when flight operations will resume. Likewise, the Ministry of External Affairs has not issued a response to Pakistan’s claims about the destruction of Indian defence infrastructure.
Observers warn that while active conflict has momentarily paused, the continued suspension of air travel and elevated military readiness indicate unresolved tensions. The situation continues to evolve, with regional stability hanging in the balance.
