Following escalating tensions with Pakistan, India has closed 24 airports, leading to potential travel disruptions. Flights between North and West India may experience longer routes as they are diverted to more distant airports such as Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Airlines are rerouting flights to bypass Pakistani airspace, causing congestion on the Mumbai side. Indian carriers have relocated aircraft and crew from the closed airports in anticipation of continued uncertainty.

Initially, 27 airports were closed, with Rajkot serving as a diversion/alternate airport for single-aisle aircraft rerouted from the west after Pakistan's airspace closure on April 24. However, diversion airports are now farther away, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Goa, leading to longer flight distances for diverted aircraft.

The airports closed include Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bhatinda, Halwara, Pathankot, Bhuntar, Shimla, Gaggal, Dharamsala, Kishangarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Mundra, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Kandla, Keshod, Bhuj, Gwalior, and Hindon.

With most airlines bypassing Pakistani airspace, air traffic between the east and west has shifted to the Mumbai side, resulting in congestion. Escalations with Pakistan lead to aircraft flying farther away from Pakistani airspace within Indian airspace, causing slightly longer routes. The major impact occurs when en route flights divert to more distant airports in India.

Indian carriers have removed their aircraft from the closed airports, flying them out as ferry flights without passengers. Crew members stationed at these airports have been transported to Delhi or other locations by train due to the uncertainty surrounding when the airports will reopen. IndiGo, for instance, flew four aircraft out of Chandigarh and transported the crew to Delhi by train.

More international long-haul flights to and from India are now including stops. United's New York (EWR)-Delhi flight will now stop at Frankfurt for a few days. All airlines are closely monitoring the situation.

In response to the Pahalgam attack, India has taken countermeasures against Pakistan for supporting cross-border terrorism. Recent events, including the May 7th Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror bases in Pakistan, have led to sealed borders following ceasefire violations. The situation remains tense, with heightened alerts in Indian cities amid Indo-Pakistani tensions.

The conflict between India and Pakistan has also drawn attention to Chinese military technology. The escalating situation could provide insights into how advanced Chinese military technology performs against Western hardware. Chinese defense stocks are reportedly surging as a result.

The name of “Operation Sindoor” evoked varied reactions in India. There is broader discussion around whether Pakistan should be designated as a terrorist state, which could have consequences. The current environment is marked by fake news and propaganda, requiring verification of information with official government channels.