Until January 26, the runway at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will be closed for 145 minutes, or two hours and twenty-five minutes, each day. The shutdown, which is part of the Republic Day security plans, is set for 10:20 am to 12:45 pm. Airlines and travelers were informed of the temporary airspace restriction by a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). Rehearsals, exercises, and the flypast are all part of the Republic Day parade preparations. More than 1,300 domestic and international flights are anticipated to be affected by the suspension. According to aviation analytics company Cirium, at least 1,336 flights—665 departures and 671 arrivals—will be impacted over the course of eight days.
Here’s how the closure will affect flights each day:
- January 19 (Sunday): 85 departures, 85 arrivals
- January 20 (Monday): 85 departures, 84 arrivals
- January 21 (Tuesday): 79 departures, 81 arrivals (lightest day)
- Remaining days: 81-84 departures and 82-87 arrivals impacted daily
Rather than being completely canceled, some planes can see adjustments in their schedule. Operations may become even more complicated because the outage occurs during Delhi’s busiest fog season. There will also be problems to international flights to important locations like Toronto, Washington, Tashkent, Kathmandu, and Colombo. To protect the dignitaries and secure the flypast, the airspace must be closed. Another notice issued on Monday titled ‘Security Stepped up due to Republic Day’, read, “Keeping your safety in mind, enhanced security measures are in place at Delhi Airport. Please plan your time well to ensure a smooth journey. We appreciate your cooperation with our security staff to maintain a safe environment for all. Thank you for your understanding.”
To get timely notifications of any flight changes, make sure the airline has your most recent contact information. Make reservations for flights outside of the 10:20 am–12:45 pm window if you intend to travel during this time. Because of the increased security checks for Republic Day activities, anticipate lengthier travel times. Use booking websites and airline updates to be informed about flight changes.
