Airline company Air Astana halts flights to India due to closure of airspace

Airline company Air Astana halts flights to India due to closure of airspace

Air travel between India and Pakistan is in chaos due to escalating military tensions and airstrikes that kicked off in early May 2025. Here's the lowdown:

• India unleashed a volley of airstrikes on targets in northern Pakistan on May 7, ratcheting up tension and causing a spate of drone attacks on both sides following suit[2].
• In India, numerous airports such as Amritsar (VIAR), Srinagar (VISR), and Chandigarh (VICG) are still off-limits to civilian flights until May 10, as a precaution[2].
• Pakistani airspace was shut down for 48 hours post-strikes but has since reopened – although some northern air routes remain restricted until May 10[1][2]. Some major airlines are shunning Pakistan’s airspace entirely, rerouting international flights over the Gulf of Oman and UAE to stay clear of the region due to security issues and fears of escalation[2].
• The turmoil has led to a slew of flight cancellations on both sides. Indian carriers scrapped about 430 flights (3% of their schedule) on May 8, and Pakistani airlines canceled over 147 flights, accounting for approximately 17% of their daily schedule[1].
• Despite some airports in both countries reopening, air travel between India and Pakistan is heavily restricted, with numerous cancellations, airport closures, and airlines avoiding Pakistani airspace due to ongoing military conflict and safety concerns[1][2]. Passengers should brace themselves for disruptions and check with airlines for the most recent updates.

Air Astana has halted its flights between Almaty and Indian cities Delhi and Mumbai starting May 8, following the shutdown of airspace between India and Pakistan[1]. The airline will offer full refunds for passengers affected by the cancellations and is coordinating repatriation flights via alternative routes to ensure the safe return of Kazakh citizens and other Air Astana passengers[1].

Meanwhile, the Indian Defense Ministry declared the airstrikes on Pakistan as retaliation for a tragic militant attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 25 Indians and one Nepali national on April 22[1]. India's army alleges that Pakistani shelling caused the deaths of at least 15 civilians and injured 43 on its side of the border, while Pakistan's military claims at least 31 people were killed and 57 were wounded in the retaliatory strikes[1].

The BBC reports that Pakistan launched a series of strikes, named Operation Sindoor, on sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on May 8, in reprisal for the deadly Pahalgam attack[1]. The conflict remains volatile, with the potential that Pakistan could impose a full airspace closure again, as it did during a similar confrontation from February to August 2019[2].

Stay tuned for more updates as the situation unfolds.

1. Due to the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan, Air Astana has suspended its flights between Almaty and Indian cities Delhi and Mumbai, starting May 8.
2. The Indian Defense Ministry declared the airstrikes on Pakistan as a retaliation for a militant attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the death of 26 individuals, including one Nepali national, on April 22.
3. The bombardment in Kashmir has also influenced the lifestyle and travel of its residents, as the region has been in turmoil for some time.
4. News outlets like BBC have reported Pakistan's retaliatory military action, Operation Sindoor, on May 8, which targeted sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, as a response to the deadly Pahalgam attack.

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