Operation Sindoor impact: Air India, Air India Express offer full refunds and free rescheduling for Defence personnel

New Delhi: In a strong show of solidarity with the Indian armed forces following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam and the launch of Operation Sindoor, Air India and Air India Express have extended special travel concessions to defence personnel. The Tata Group-owned carriers have announced that defence passengers can avail of full refunds on cancellations or reschedule their journeys once without incurring charges.

The offer applies to tickets booked under special defence fares on both Air India and Air India Express for travel until May 31, 2025. The airlines further clarified that any rescheduling done up to June 30, 2025, will qualify for a one-time waiver.

Air India stated that the initiative is intended to honour the "selfless service" and "duty commitments" of India's military personnel.

“In the prevailing situation, for those personnel holding defence fares who are booked on Air India and Air India Express flights till May 31, 2025, we are offering full refunds on cancellation and a one-time waiver on rescheduling flights up to June 30, 2025, to support their duty commitments,” the airline announced on X on Wednesday.

The announcement comes in the aftermath of a coordinated missile and drone operation conducted by Indian forces early Wednesday. In a precision strike lasting 25 minutes, Indian defence units destroyed nine key terror infrastructures across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including sites linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba — groups long held responsible for cross-border militancy.
According to reports, advanced drones and surface-to-surface missiles were deployed to eliminate high-value targets, including major militant hubs in Bahawalpur and Muridke.

Air India also shared resources for eligible defence personnel to claim the offer:

• For Air India bookings: https://airindia.com/in/en/contact-us/customer-support-portal/defence-support.html?partner=none&subcategory=Defence%20Support
• For Air India Express: Personnel can use the #ChatWithTia feature via WhatsApp on +91 63600 12345.

Air India Express echoed the message, reaffirming its commitment to stand by the armed forces during a time of elevated national vigilance.

Security has been ramped up across India’s border regions, with the armed forces maintaining a high level of operational readiness in light of the recent escalation.