Delhi airport to face brief daily closures for 6 days ahead of Republic Day

Operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi will be suspended daily for a short duration for six days starting January 21 due to security arrangements linked to Republic Day celebrations, as per official information.

According to reports, the government on Tuesday issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), stating that flight operations will remain suspended daily between 10.20 am and 12.45 pm. The temporary shutdown lasting two hours and 25 minutes each day is expected to affect a large number of domestic and international flights.

The restriction has been imposed to facilitate security drills, practice sessions, dress rehearsals and the main Republic Day parade, which includes a ceremonial march, aerial flypast and cultural and military displays along Kartavya Path.

With the NOTAM being issued just days ahead of the closures, airlines are expected to face operational challenges, including rescheduling flights, managing missed connections and accommodating affected passengers. Industry sources say this could result in delays, revised departure times and, in some cases, rebooking or refunds adding to operational costs for airlines.

Officials clarified that not all impacted flights will be cancelled. However, many services are likely to undergo schedule changes, while some passengers may be shifted to alternate flights at different times.

Travellers have been advised to check flight status with their airlines in advance, as disruptions are expected during the specified hours on the affected days