United and American Pull Delhi Routes Amid Sudden India‑Pakistan Airspace Clash

After tensions escalated between India and Pakistan, India has so far shut down 27 major airports in north, west and central parts of the country until Friday, May 9. These include Chandigarh, Srinagar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Shimla, Bhatinda, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jammu, Leh, Rajkot, Pathankot, Bhuj, Gwalior, Hindon and more. 

India also closed about 25 flight routes that allow planes to enter Pakistan from the Indian airspace. This means that foreign carriers flying the Pakistan airspace after exiting India will also now have to take longer routes to their destinations.

Both United and American Airlines canceled their flights to Delhi on Wednesday with United saying that it would monitor the situation and take calls on future flights as more information becomes available. 

Throughout the day, travel players including airlines and online travel agencies kept issuing advisories for travelers. While online travel agencies EaseMyTrip and Yatra urged passengers to verify their flight status with their respective airlines before leaving for the airport, Ixigo requested affected passengers to connect with their customer service teams for guidance with cancelations, refunds, or rescheduling. 

At 7 pm IST on Wednesday, the Delhi Airport released a statement informing that all operations across terminals and all four runways at the airport were functioning normally. It added, “However, there have been impact on some flights due to changing airspace conditions. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for latest updates and alternate travel arrangements. We are working closely with airlines and Air Traffic Control to minimize any disruptions to flight schedules.”

Mumbai airport released a similar statement earlier in the day, saying, “In view of airspace restrictions and closure of certain airports across the country, flight operations may be impacted.”

All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association president Rigzin Wangmo Lachic announced free stays to help passengers stranded in Ladakh. “Following a meeting of the executive body, it has been decided that guests whose outbound flights have been canceled due to the current situation will be provided complimentary stays at the same hotels where they have been staying in Ladakh,” she said. 

India-Pakistan Tensions: In the early hours of Wednesday, India launched a military operation on terrorist camps in Pakistani-controlled territory. India said the strikes were in response to the terror attack that killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam. 

By the end of Wednesday, airlines had canceled more than 300 flights. Around 1:15pm IST IndiGo had confirmed that it has cancelled 165 flights. Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, Star Air and Air India Express also cancelled flights to and from the affected cities. 

Two weeks ago, soon after the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan closed its airspace to all Indian carriers, which has made it harder for airlines flying from India to Europe, North America, and Central Asia. An earlier Skift report had said, “This disruption is costing airlines money – flights are using more fuel as schedules and flight times increase. A flight held up in Europe could delay another one in India. If this continues, airlines could start losing money. Air India says it could lose about $600 million if Pakistan keeps its airspace closed for a year.”

Madhya Pradesh’s Latest Move to Attract Tourists

The central state of Madhya Pradesh has launched its film tourism policy to boost tourism in the state. It is looking to grow its image as a film-friendly destination by encouraging investments, enhancing infrastructure, and empowering local talent.

Over the years, Madhya Pradesh has been pushing itself as a location for film shoots by providing subsidies and developing infrastructure. Over the past 5 years, over 350 film projects have been shot in the state. The state’s new film tourism policy states, “Film shooting locations shall be developed and promoted as tourist products or tourist attractions.”

Madhya Pradesh is also looking to set up a film city to provide complete infrastructure to film makers in one place. 

The state launched its AVGC-XR (animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality) policy for the creative industries sector. It will aim to promote skill levels in this domain, and set up incubation centers, animation labs, plug and play facilities, and post-production labs.

Indians are known to be driven by the Hindi film industry. In an earlier feature, Skift said that the global film tourism market is projected to reach $136 billion by 2033. According to online travel aggregator Skyscanner, 52% of Indian travelers said they are largely influenced by television and films and choose to visit places they have seen on screen.

Zoya Akhtar’s 2011 film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara proved a powerful advertisement for Spanish tourism. Within a year of its release, the number of Indian visitors to Spain nearly doubled to more than 60,000, according to a FICCI report. Building on that momentum, Spain and India signed a film co-production agreement in 2012. By 2015, Spain was welcoming 85,000 travelers from India.

In 2009, the film 3 Idiots turned Ladakh’s Pangong Lake into a must-visit spot. Meanwhile, Ramoji Rao Film City — famed for both production and tourism — in India’s Hyderabad draws an average of 1.5 million visitors annually.

Hilton’s Plan to Grow 10x in 10 Years

Hilton said Tuesday it plans to grow its presence in India by 10 times over the next 10 years. Currently, Hilton has 32 hotels up and running in India, with 29 more in the works.

Within the next few years, Hilton is planning to launch five new brands in the country, starting with the Curio Collection by Hilton in Bengaluru and the first Signia by Hilton in Jaipur this year. More high-end offerings are also on the way, including LXR Hotels & Resorts in Bengaluru in 2026 and Waldorf Astoria in Jaipur by 2028. India will be the first market in Asia Pacific to debut Hilton’s entry-level brand – Spark by Hilton.

“There’s no market with more opportunity and higher growth than India,” Hilton’s President and CEO Christopher Nassetta said during the Hilton Brand Showcase in Bengaluru on Tuesday. “What’s been happening in the hospitality market in India over the last 20 years and what will happen in the next 20, there’s no other market that has more opportunity.

IHG Expands Presence in India

IHG Hotels & Resorts is increasing its presence across India. This week, it signed a new Crowne Plaza hotel in Delhi-NCR. The 210-key Crowne Plaza Gurgaon Sector 85 is expected to open in 2029 as part of the hotel chain’s premium offerings. 

“As one of India’s largest corporate and residential hubs, Gurugram continues to see strong demand for premium hospitality experiences,” said Sudeep Jain, managing director for South West Asia at IHG. The property is expected to cater to MICE opportunities. 

The hospitality group has also signed Holiday Inn Express & Suites Pen Mumbai Goa Highway in Maharashtra. The hotel, which will have 126 rooms, is scheduled to open in 2028 and will cater to the growing industrial hub of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). 

India’s Passport Strengthens

The Indian passport has risen to 79th position in the Henley Passport Index global ranking list for 2025. This was up one spot from its 80th position last year. 

Henley noted that Indian passport holders have access to 58 destinations visa free, while they need visas or e-visas to visit 168 countries. Destinations such as Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Iran, Jordan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Cambodia are either visa-free or offer visa on arrival or electronic travel authorization for Indians.