Nearly 1,000 flights to be hit by airspace closure for R Day
New Delhi: Nearly 1,000 flights to and from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) will be cancelled or rescheduled in the run-up to Republic Day parade as airspace over Delhi will remain closed for about two hours every day for over a week.
An estimated 500 domestic flights could be cancelled and as many international flights will be rescheduled due to the restrictions, an airport official said, adding it was being done due to increased traffic and capacity constraints this year.
The airspace over Delhi remains shut for commercial flights due to rehearsals in the days leading to the Republic Day on January 26.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has issued a NOTAM or Notice to Airmen informing the airlines that no take-offs or landings would be allowed from or to Delhi airport from 10.35 am to 12.15 pm for nine days between January 18-26, according to airport sources.
IGI witnesses 67 air traffic movement (both take offs and landings) per hour between 8 am to 11 pm everyday. With airspace shut for 100 minutes for nine days, an estimated 1,000 flights will either be cancelled or rescheduled.
"On an average 100 flights will be affected every day. We will accommodate 40 international flights before or after the closure hours.
"Out of the remaining 60, we will try to reschedule some of the flights. So, we could see roughly 50 flights being cancelled each day," said an airport official.
The Delhi International Airport Limited, which operates IGI, says no international flights will be cancelled.
"Keeping in consideration the capacity constraints and to minimise inconvenience to the passengers, Airports Authority of India-Air Navigation Services, several major airlines and DIAL have consulted on various options and jointly agreed that the best and safest course of action is to cancel domestic flights scheduled during the NOTAM period.
"International carriers have been requested to re- schedule and not cancel their flights," said a DIAL spokesperson.
Airport officials say that while on earlier occasions they were able to reschedule most of the affected flights, severe capacity constraints at IGI mean that it can't be done anymore.
"Since we had spare capacity we were able to accommodate flights either before or after the closure hours. But because we don't have any spare capacity now, these flights have to be cancelled," said a source.
Also, the airspace closure has been extended by two days, as a result the restrictions are in place for nine days instead of seven days.
The airlines were asked to curtail operations for R-day on December 29, when the NOTAM was issued.
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Congress believes in fair growth, BJP in triple-down approach: Rahul Gandhi
Chennai: In an interaction with students at IIT Madras, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi contrasted the ideologies of the Congress and the BJP, emphasising his party's focus on equitable distribution of resources and inclusive growth. He described the BJP's approach as more aggressive, rooted in a "triple-down" economic model.
Gandhi explained that the Congress envisions a harmonious society with less conflict, which he believes benefits the nation. On international relations, he acknowledged some differences between the two parties but suggested similarities in certain areas.
The Congress leader strongly criticised India's education system, calling it "narrow, restrictive, and top-down." He advocated for increased government spending on education, asserting that privatisation and financial incentives fail to deliver quality education. Highlighting the achievements of institutions like IIT Madras, Gandhi argued that government-funded institutions are the backbone of quality education in India.
"Our system undervalues many professions while overvaluing a select few like engineering, medicine, and civil services," he remarked, urging reforms to promote innovation and broaden career opportunities for students.
Gandhi emphasised the importance of fostering creativity and innovation among students. He argued that real progress lies in physical production and skill development, which require substantial investment. Reflecting on his Bharat Jodo Yatra, he noted that children's aspirations often revolve around a narrow set of professions, underscoring the need for an education system that values diverse talents.
"The current system measures success too narrowly. It should empower children to explore multiple fields and pursue their interests," he said.
The Congress leader concluded by advocating for systemic changes to allow children the freedom to experiment and thrive in various fields.
Innovation comes from skill pic.twitter.com/CXDqmAIjqI
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 5, 2025
