IGI closed for two hours for IAF drill, flights rescheduled

New Delhi, August 11:

The Delhi airport remained closed for two hours this afternoon for Independence Day rehearsals by the Indian Air Force due to which airlines had to reschedule their flights.

Commercial flight operations were suspended from 1300 hours to 1500 hours due to air closure notice by the Director General of Civial Aviation to allow Indian Air Force to conduct air exercise for the Independence Day, airport sources said.

A ‘NOTAM’ (Notice To Airmen) was issued by the DGCA on the ‘air closure’ and it will be observed on Tuesday and Wednesday also during the same time period, the sources added.

Though no flights were delayed, airlines had to reschedule their flights after getting a prior notice by the DGCA.

“Since we received a prior notice about the ‘air closure’, we had to reschedule our flights for three days so that passengers do not face any problems due to the closure of the airport,” an airlines spokesperson said.

Most airlines have planned their flights to avoid landing at the Indira Gandhi International airport during the air closure.

However, some flights bound for Delhi were diverted to neighbouring airports, including Lucknow.

Normal flight operations resumed after the closure, the sources said.