Air traffic over the capital is set for fresh disruption between January 21 and 26 as Republic Day rehearsal flights prompt temporary airspace shutdowns above Indira Gandhi International Airport. A notice issued this week confirms that daily closures, scheduled between late morning and early afternoon, will coincide with one of the airport’s busiest operating windows.
The drills, conducted by the Indian Air Force, are expected to affect more than 600 flights over six days, according to aviation data analysts. While the closure window is under three hours each day, airlines caution that the knock-on impact could be far wider, particularly for long-haul departures to Europe and onward connections through domestic and international hubs.
The timing compounds existing winter fog challenges, with on-time performance already under strain. Corporate travel planners are advising longer buffers or alternative gateways, while cargo operators are reassessing schedules for time-sensitive shipments.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has directed airlines to offer flexible rebooking or refunds, though concerns remain across the wider travel ecosystem about coordination during peak periods.
