Flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will face daily suspensions of nearly two-and-a-half hours between January 21 and January 26 as security arrangements are intensified ahead of Republic Day celebrations.
According to a government-issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), all arrivals and departures will be halted from 10.20 am to 12.45 pm on each of the six days, a closure of 145 minutes. The disruption is expected to affect thousands of passengers, triggering delays, rescheduling and missed connections during one of the airport’s busiest time windows.
The shutdown overlaps with peak daytime operations, when domestic arrivals typically connect into afternoon departures for Europe and multiple Indian cities. Airlines have been asked to realign schedules, with some flights likely to be cancelled and others retimed. In several cases, carriers may rebook passengers on alternate services, adding pressure to airline operations during the peak winter travel season.
The impact will extend beyond domestic routes, with international flights to destinations such as Washington, Toronto, Tashkent, Kathmandu and Colombo also likely to face delays or schedule adjustments.
Operational challenges could intensify due to winter fog in Delhi, which often restricts visibility during this time of year. On foggy days, airlines will need to manage heavy traffic within a reduced operating window, increasing the risk of congestion and passenger inconvenience.
Passengers travelling to, from or via Delhi during the affected dates are advised to track flight updates closely, allow additional buffer time for connections and remain prepared for last-minute schedule changes as Republic Day preparations continue
