After Pakistan started a new series of drone attacks at 26 places, Airlines have been instructed to escape from some existing flight routes between Delhi and Mumbai.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Friday issued several notices (notams) to the airmen to temporarily shut down 32 airports in North and Western India for all civil flights. For operational reasons, this instruction will remain in force “from 9 May to 14 May 2025 (which is in line with Indian time on 15 May 2025).
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a release on Friday night, “AAI has also extended the duration of temporary closure of 25 Air Traffic Services (ATS) routes coming in Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Area (FIR) due to operational reasons.
Earlier, AAI had announced the closure of about 25 airports located near the India-Pakistan border or at major Indian Air Force bases.
Drone risk from Pakistan increased, flights between Delhi-Mumbai affected
According to OAG, a company focused on the aviation sector, in 2024, Mumbai-Delhi will be the eighth most busy domestic air route globally. The airline conducts 7.963 million seats between the two cities.
According to AAI, temporary shutdown is being managed by coordination with the concerned ATC units to ensure the safety of passengers. According to aviation industry data, the average daily domestic flights in April decreased from 3,265 to 2,907 (till 8 May). About 670 airline routes will be affected on 9-10 May. According to Flightradar 24 data, it includes flights from 24 closed airports to 334 and 336.
Srinagar, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jammu and Leh airports are the most affected routes. Other affected airports include Patiala, Bhuntar, Pathankot, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Mundra, Keshod and Rajkot. Pakistan’s attempt to attack Srinagar airport with drones was also thwarted on Friday amid the ongoing tension between the two countries.
