In light of the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has issued a public travel advisory, advising passengers to prepare for possible flight operation disruptions. The advisory comes in response to flagging regional security issues Auckland is experiencing as a result of India’s recent military strikes, as well as Pakistan’s military response to those strikes.
The advisory, which was issued early Saturday, also stated that passengers traveling to or from Delhi should check their flight status well in advance, and arrive at the airport earlier than usual even when traveling to the airport. Due to the heightened threat perception, IGIA is implementing advanced security measures, including additional personnel, more vehicular screening, and enhanced passenger identification screening.
Growing Tensions in Geopolitics
The situation shows clear signs of escalation as a direct continuation of the high-profile increase in hostilities between the two countries as India recently undertook “Operation Sindoor” to destroy what India claimed were terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupying Kashmir. After India’s counter-terror operations, which resulted in dozens of deaths, Pakistan commenced “Operation Bunyan al-Marsus” to target Indian military installations. The frequency of the cross-border attacks has raised military alert status on both sides.
This rise in military preparedness has raised concerns about a full-scale war, which resulted in an increase in security measures taken by authorities in both countries in various states of unrest and along sensitive transport corridors. Naturally, as the capital city and a national capital metro city, Delhi would become an area of heightened focus.
Advisory Highlights
As per airport officials, flight operations could possibly be hampered, especially airlines that have scheduled to depart toward the north and west, since the geographical location is closer to where military actions have been reported to take place. Some airlines have already commenced rerouting or delaying flights, just to be proactive.
Via a statement, an IGIA official said, “Passenger safety is our utmost priority. We are closely liaising with (DGCA) Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation, airline operators to observe the situation as it evolves. Passengers are advised to monitor real-time updates from sources.”
Passengers are also advised to use digital check-in; minimize their luggage in accordance with the airline; and remain vigilant for any updates. The airlines that operate through Delhi, including major domestic Indian airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, and Vistara, have issued advisories providing a free rebooking option to affected passengers.
National and International Significance
Delhi’s IGI Airport is one of the busiest airports in Asia with over 70 million passengers each year. As a key international and domestic aviation hub, the airport’s operational activity will have national ramifications, particularly for travel, tourism, and cargo sectors.
Aviation industry analysts noted that based on the data and advisory level issued for the Delhi airport, it has been the first non-weather-related advisory of significance in a while. The only advisories issued in the past of similar significance were weather-related (most notably the thick fog in winter) or technical infrastructure advisories.
At the time of writing, no critical cancellations of commercially scheduled flights have been identified, but aviation officials remain highly vigilant. With most flight tracking services indicating only slight delays in specific sectors, and with airline customer call centers logging increased calls from concerned passengers, it has been confirmed that travel is still taking place, albeit under a heightened awareness and impact protocol.
Call for Calm
Despite the growing geopolitical situation, officials have called for calm and assured the men and women of the country that all measures are being taken to safeguard civilians and civilian infrastructure and the traveling public.
Security has also been elevated at other metro airports (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad) although the Delhi situation still appears to be the primary focus of precautionary action.
Travelers are reminded to check their airline’s websites, the Delhi Airport app, and social media about the status of flights and advisories.
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