Airlines, government issue travel warnings amid risk of war

The US Embassy says that 'this remains an evolving situation.'

May 7, 2025 - 16:51

Airlines, government issue travel warnings amid risk of war

On the morning of May 7, the Indian military fired a series of missiles into the Pakistani-controlled territory in Kashmir in what it claims was retaliation for an April 22 attack on the Indian part of the territory that killed 25 tourists.

Dubbed Operation Sindoor, the attack is a significant escalation of long-running tensions between the two South Asian countries. Pakistan responded with cross-border fire that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claims shot down five Indian jets.

"Banned international terrorists find it safe from being punished in this country," the Indian Army said in a statement on Operation Sindoor, in which it also accused Pakistan of "misleading the world and international platforms." "[...] This is the most serious incident since the 2008 Mumbai attack, considering that fact the civilians were attacked."

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These are the airlines rerouting flights amid the India-Pakistan escalation

The latest attack killed 25 Pakistani citizens including one child and risks plunging the region into further conflict. Multiple airlines have immediately responded by cancelling and rerouting flights away from Pakistani airspace.

FlightRadar24 data shows that 57 international flights were in the airspace at the time that India struck on the morning of May 7. At least 52 were immediately diverted.

Air India cancelled flights to cities like Srinagar, Jammu, Jodhpur, and Amritsar amid the closure of airports, while Korean Air rerouted flights between Seoul and Dubai to fly over Myanmar and Bangladesh instead of Pakistan.

“We are continuously monitoring the situation," Dutch carrier KLM (AFLYY) said alongside similar statements from Air France, Lufthansa (DLAKF) , and British Airways.

Airlines with significant service in the region that are also affected by the escalation include Thai Airways, Malysian Air, Sri Lankan Airlines, Taiwan’s EVA Air, and Indian low-cost carriers like SpiceJet and IndiGo.

Many of the airlines rerouted to fly over Middle Eastern nations such as Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, which in turn caused significant congestion in the area on May 7.

The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been the cause of dispute between India and Pakistan for centuries.
Image source: Shutterstock

'We are aware of reports of military strikes': US Embassy

While U.S.-based airlines have significantly fewer routes flying through the region, the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan updated its travel warning for citizens who may be in the Kashmir region. Pakistan is currently at the level three "reconsider travel" rating, but the newest advisory tells citizens to "depart areas of active conflict if they can safely do so, or to shelter in place."

More on travel:

"We are aware of reports of military strikes by India into Pakistan," the May 7 advisory reads. "This remains an evolving situation, and we are closely monitoring developments. [....] We are also aware that airspace has been closed, and many flights have been cancelled."

The advisory singles out the India-Pakistan border as a region to which U.S. citizens should avoid all travel due to risk of "terrorism and the potential for armed conflict." The State Department advisory for India also singles out the regions of Jammu and Kashmir "due to terrorism and civil unrest."

"Exercise caution and leave the area if you find yourself unexpectedly in the vicinity of military activities," the advisory reads further. "Shelter in place if you cannot relocate."