As India prepares for Republic Day celebrations later this month, additional security measures are being introduced to ensure public safety. As part of these arrangements, flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will be temporarily suspended for nearly two and a half hours each day from January 21 to January 26, according to multiple media reports.
A government-issued Notice to Airmen, known as a NOTAM, has confirmed the temporary closure. As per the notice, no flights will operate between 10.20 am and 12.45pm on these days. Aviation analytics firm Cirium estimates that more than 600 flights could be affected during this period, potentially disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers.
The daily shutdown is linked to heightened security and logistical preparations for Republic Day, which is celebrated on January 26 to mark the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950. The closure will allow authorities to conduct full-scale rehearsals for the Republic Day parade, including aerial flypast exercises, defence demonstrations, and cultural processions.
These restrictions come at a challenging time for air travel in the capital. Dense fog and severe cold weather have already been affecting flight schedules in and out of Delhi, leading to delays and cancellations. The additional temporary suspension of operations is expected to further inconvenience passengers.
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