32 airports reopen for civilian flights

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

New Delhi, May 12: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has announced the reopening of 32 airports in northern and western India that were temporarily shut due to heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan.

While the airports are now open, civilian flight operations are expected to resume soon, with exact timings yet to be confirmed.

AAI confirmed on Monday that the airports are now operational for civilian use, effective immediately.

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The list of airports cleared for operations includes key locations such as Amritsar, Jaisalmer, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Adampur, Ambala, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bhuj, Bikaner, Halwara, Hindon, Jammu, Kandla, Kangra, Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu-Manali (Bhuntar), Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, Rajkot, Sarsawa, Shimla, Thoise, and Uttarlai.

The suspension, which began on May 9 and was scheduled to last until May 15, included major airports such as Srinagar and Amritsar. The decision to halt operations came after escalating conflict prompted a significant military standoff, leading to enhanced security protocols at key airfields.

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The resumption of services comes two days after India and Pakistan agreed to cease all military engagements—across land, air, and sea—with immediate effect. This diplomatic breakthrough appears to have paved the way for the normalization of civilian aviation activity in the region.

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In its official statement, AAI advised passengers to confirm their flight status directly with airlines and to keep monitoring airline websites for the latest updates.

During the shutdown period, a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) had been issued to notify carriers of the restricted airspace, marking one of the most extensive air travel suspensions in recent years due to regional conflict.

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