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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CM Siddaramaiah visits Minister Sudhakar in hospital
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday visited Minister D Sudhakar in hospital and said doctors would take a decision on further treatment after the latter regains consciousness.
The Planning and Statistics Minister Sudhakar fell ill following a severe lung infection. He is still in the intensive care unit.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Electronic City, Siddaramaiah said, "Sudhakar has not yet regained consciousness. The doctors will take a decision tomorrow."
Responding to a query on whether a lung transplantation would be carried out, the CM said, "If a transplant has to be done now, he must regain consciousness. He is not conscious now. The doctors will take a decision."
Asked about the minister's condition, Siddaramaiah said he is stable now, but on ventilator support.
"All other organs are functioning well and he is stable. The brain has not yet regained consciousness," he said.
On further medical evaluation, Siddaramaiah said, "The doctors will do a CT scan tomorrow. After that, they will know. They will take a decision."
The doctors briefed the CM on the treatment being administered. Siddaramaiah also interacted with the minister's family members.
VIDEO | Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday visited Minister D Sudhakar in hospital and said doctors would take a decision on further treatment after the latter regains consciousness.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 25, 2026
The Planning and Statistics Minister Sudhakar fell ill following a severe lung… pic.twitter.com/qyfuUkAca1
