Delhi airport: Operations normal amid long queues, hand tests to detect explosives

Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the situation at Delhi airport remained normal on Saturday (May 10). While several domestic and international flights were cancelled or postponed, passengers who departed from or landed in Delhi in the last 48 hours said they faced no major issues, barring additional security checks and longer queues.

Also read: CISF to check cargo, in-line baggage at 69 airports amid Indo-Pak tension

Spokespersons of Delhi airport as well as airlines said that while flights were being cancelled, the situation at the airport remained normal with increased security. The only change was that domestic passengers were being asked to arrive three hours in advance.

What passengers said

This comes in the wake of the decision of the Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on May 9 to “temporarily extend the role of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as the Aviation Security Group (ASG) to provide additional security cover to Cargo operations and the In-line Hold Baggage Screening System (ILHBSS)”.

Also read: India's warning to Pakistan: Any future terror attack will be treated as act of war

“This arrangement, effective from May 9, 2025, to May 18, 2025, is a direct response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent security scenario in the country. The enhancement of CISF's mandate is essential to reinforce security arrangements at all civil airports,” the CISF said in a statement.

Samuel Philip Mathew, who took an Air India flight from Delhi to Trivandrum on May 9, said his flight was on schedule, but there was a long queue for security and tight security. “There were extra barricades with police checking on the entry from the highway to the airport. Security checks involved a finger-swipe test for explosives, which had never happened to me before. They ran some strips on my fingers and inserted them in a device for a chemical test, which tests for explosives and drugs,” he told The Federal. He said the testing was being done by random sampling.

Another passenger said the CISF was being extra careful in checking vehicles at the entry to the airport. “I was in a Government of India car, but they still made us stop and roll down our windows because they were black-tinted,” said Sushovan Patra, who works with the Centre for Development of Telematics (CDoT) and took an Indigo flight from Delhi to Kolkata on May 9.

However, he said once inside the airport, everything was smooth. “The only thing was that there was a lot of crowd. It seemed unusual, but it may not have been,” he said. With 32 airports shut nationally, Patra’s sister, who was to travel from Chandigarh to Delhi on May 11, had to alter her plans and will now travel by train.

An IndiGo spokesperson said they had cancelled around 500 flights nationally from May 7-9, but could not give Delhi-specific data. “As soon as we get news from the government on airport closures, we immediately inform passengers. They are also alert and are checking regularly on our social media handle and website, so there has been no issue,” the spokesperson told The Federal.

Flights cancelled

A Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) spokesperson said on May 9, 60 flights from Delhi and another 60 landing in Delhi had been cancelled. The figures for May 10 were not yet available, he said. These were all domestic flights.

Kshitiz Goliya, an analyst who landed in Delhi at 4 AM on May 10 on an Air India flight from Sydney, Australia, said there had been no glitches. “Everything was completely normal. I was worried that there may be issues, but there were none, even while exiting the airport,” he said.

According to the last advisory issued by the Delhi Airport at 4:32 PM on May 10, operations continue as normal.

“Delhi Airport operations are running smoothly as usual. However, due to evolving airspace conditions and enhanced security measures as directed by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, some flight schedules may be impacted and security processing times could be longer,” it said.

Passengers have been advised to stay updated on the latest information through their airlines, follow luggage regulations, and arrive early for “potential delays” during security checks, among other things.

Meanwhile, on Saturday evening, India and Pakistan agreed for an immediate ceasefire. “India and Pakistan have today worked out an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action. India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).