CHANDIGARH, May 12: Civilian flight operations at Chandigarh Airport are expected to restart soon, officials confirmed on Monday, following the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan that brought a temporary halt to escalating hostilities.
“The airport is fully prepared for the resumption of normal civil flight services,” a senior official said, adding that airlines have already opened bookings in anticipation of renewed operations.
Flight services had been suspended at 32 airports across northern and western India—including Chandigarh, Srinagar, Amritsar, and Kangra—after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a notice on May 9, halting civilian operations until May 15 due to heightened military tensions.
With calm gradually returning to the region, pressure is mounting to reopen airspace and restore normal connectivity, especially for essential travel. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah underscored the urgency in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “Now that we have a ceasefire, I hope the airports can be reopened quickly and civil flights can resume. We have a backlog of hajis who should have been in Medina by now. I hope the Union Government will move quickly to reopen airspace and enable us to resume Haj flights from Srinagar.”
The airport’s reopening is seen as a key step toward normalization following one of the region’s most serious military escalations in years.
The suspension of flights had affected thousands of travelers, including pilgrims, patients, and students, disrupting plans across several states.
Officials said coordination between civil aviation authorities and defense agencies is ongoing to ensure a smooth transition back to regular operations.
An official announcement on the exact time of reopening is expected soon.
