Hirasar Rajkot International Airport Reopens After India-Pakistan Ceasefire

Rajkot, Gujarat – Following the ceasefire announced between India and Pakistan at 5 PM on May 10, normalcy is gradually returning across affected regions. Among the first signs of recovery is the reopening of Hirasar (Rajkot) International Airport, which resumed passenger operations on Monday—two days earlier than the scheduled reopening date of May 14.

The Airport Authority of India granted early clearance to restart flights at Hirasar, marking a significant relief for thousands of passengers who were stranded or forced to make alternate travel arrangements due to the recent airspace restrictions.

“It’s a relief to see operations resume. The early reopening will help clear the backlog of passengers and bring normalcy to travel,” said Rajkot Airport Director P.R. Patel.

Amidst the rising tension from May 7, 32 airports across India, including eight in Gujarat—Bhuj, Kandla, Keshod, Jamnagar, Naliya, Mundra, Porbandar, and Hirasar—were ordered shut as a precautionary measure. With the ceasefire now in effect, authorities are expected to make decisions soon regarding the reopening of the remaining airports.

For now, Bhuj and Kandla airports will stay closed until May 14, while decisions on Porbandar, Jamnagar, Naliya, Keshod, and Mundra are expected within hours.

IndiGo and Air India flights set to resume

With airport operations approved, IndiGo and Air India are expected to restart flight bookings shortly. This will revive the air connectivity between Rajkot and key cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Goa, which had been completely suspended for nearly a week.

IndiGo operated seven flights daily from Rajkot, while Air India handled three, with a combined footfall of over 3,200 passengers per day. Passengers were left with limited options and had to switch to road or rail travel, causing significant inconvenience.

“I had to travel 12 hours by train to reach Mumbai. I welcome the airport’s reopening, especially ahead of my return trip,” said Neelam Joshi, a regular business traveler from Rajkot.

Government employees’ cancelled holidays may be reinstated

Sources indicate that a decision regarding the cancelled holidays of government employees—due to the emergency situation—might also be reconsidered following the easing of tensions.