Flights to Delhi rescheduled for 3 days during air space closure

New Delhi: Several domestic and international flights to and out of Delhi have been rescheduled for the next three days with the airspace over the capital to be closed 70 minutes daily in view of preparations for the “commemorative carnival” to mark the 1965 Indo-Pak war’s 50th anniversary. [caption id=“attachment_2437786” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] While state-owned carrier Air India has changed the timings of as many as 58 flights including 12 international services during the period, budget carrier IndiGo has also rescheduled 40 flights. “Delhi airspace up to 50 miles will remain closed for commercial flights between 1600 hours and 1710 hours from September 18 to September 20,” Airport Authority of India (AAI) sources told PTI on Thursday. The NOTAM (Notice To Airmen) was issued to airlines by the AAI last week, they said, adding, “during the closure period no landing and take-off is permitted at IGA Airport here.” The move is to facilitate rehearsal for ‘Indradhanush’ on Friday and Saturday and also the actual show on Sunday. A six-day exhibition, “Shauryanjali” showcasing major battle scenes and captured tanks of the Pakistani Army during the 1965 war, is underway at central Delhi’s Rajpath since Tuesday as a part of golden jubilee celebrations of India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1965 War. “We have rescheduled 15 domestic departures and 11 arrivals on September 18 and 20, while on Sept 19, another 20 domestic lights have been assigned revised timings in view of the airspace closure,” an Air India spokesperson said. Besides, six international departures and arrivals for all three days have also been rescheduled, he said. “We have rescheduled 40 flights across the network every day for these three days due to closure. Out of this, four flights have been preponed and 33 flights have been delayed,” an IndiGo spokesperson said. IndiGo would intimate all passengers individually about the change in their flight timings, the spokesperson added. Jet Airways said that it has made appropriate changes in the its flight schedule to comply with the NOTAM. “Guests are being informed about the changes,” Jet Airways spokesperson said, without divulging details. A six-day exhibition, “Shauryanjali” showcasing major battle scenes and captured tanks of the Pakistani Army during the 1965 war is underway at central Delhi’s Rajpath since Tuesday. The exhibition will culminate on 20 September with ‘Indradhanush’ being organised. Sukhoi 30 fighter jets, flying in “Missing Man” formation, will be in action along with Mi-17 V5 helicopters. IAF skydiving team Akash Ganga will do a para-drop from the helicopters on India Gate lawns. Indian Army helicopters will also do a flypast. It would be the first time that fighter jets would be flying over the Rajpath other than during the Republic Day. PTI