Widespread flight disruptions hit UAE-South Asia routes amid India-Pakistan tension, ET TravelWorld

As geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan flare up following India’s pre-dawn military operation, Operation Sindoor, the aviation sector across South Asia and the Middle East has been thrown into disarray. The strike, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, has triggered airspace restrictions resulting in cascading flight cancellations and rerouting by major global and regional carriers.

Due to the prevailing situation in the region, Srinagar airport has been closed for civil operations. As a result, all flights to and from Srinagar have been cancelled.

North India airports shut
Indian carriers including Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have issued urgent travel advisories warning passengers of flight disruptions to and from key northern cities:

– Air India Express confirmed cancellations to Amritsar, Jammu, Srinagar, and Hindon till midday May 7, urging passengers to reconfirm status on its website.
– IndiGo reported disruptions affecting flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, and Dharamshala, advising travelers to check status at their website.
– SpiceJet announced indefinite closure of airports in Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar, and warned of potential cascading effects on other routes.
– Akasa Air confirmed flight cancellations to Srinagar, citing the airport’s closure for civil operations, alongside disruptions in Mumbai, Delhi, and Lucknow due to scheduled runway maintenance.In addition, Air India announced a broader halt of operations to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot until 0529 hrs IST on 10 May, following an aviation directive.

Ripple effect across Gulf carriers
In the UAE, Dubai International Airport and Zayed International Airport (Abu Dhabi) experienced multiple delays and cancellations of flights bound for northern India. Emirates, flydubai, and other regional carriers adjusted their schedules due to sudden airspace closures.

Qatar Airways suspended services to Pakistan, citing safety concerns, and is monitoring the situation closely. Other global airlines—Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Swiss, and Emirates—are actively avoiding Pakistani airspace, significantly impacting east-west flight corridors.The military strike—targeting terror infrastructure without engaging Pakistani military assets—has led to heightened alert levels across regional aviation authorities. According to defense sources, the operation was carefully designed to avoid civilian casualties and military confrontation while delivering a strong retaliatory message following the April 22 massacre in Jammu & Kashmir.

What this means for travel & trade?
With multiple airports closed or under restricted operations, travel and cargo disruptions are expected to continue. B2B travel stakeholders—including OTAs, freight handlers, TMCs, and aviation partners—are urged to monitor advisories and maintain real-time coordination with carriers.

Industry insiders note that rerouting around Pakistani airspace is likely to increase flight durations, operating costs, and insurance premiums in the near term. The situation remains fluid, and travellers are strongly advised to confirm flight status directly with airlines or travel agents before proceeding to airports.