New Delhi: Thousands of air travellers are bracing for a chaotic end to January as Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) prepares for a string of airspace closures ahead of Republic Day celebrations.

A fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the government confirms that airspace over the capital will be restricted between 10:20 am and 12:45 pm for six days, beginning January 21. The restrictions are essential to facilitate practice sessions, dress rehearsals, and the final flypast along Kartavya Path on January 26.

The Scale of the Disruption

According to exclusive data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, more than 600 flights are expected to be affected during this period. The closure hits at a critical time: the "afternoon bank," when domestic passengers typically land in Delhi to connect to long-haul flights to Europe and other international destinations.

The impact is expected to manifest in several ways:

Mass Cancellations: Flights scheduled exactly within the closure window may be axed entirely.

Rescheduling: Airlines will attempt to push flights earlier or later, leading to a "bottleneck" effect.

Knock-on Effects: Because aircraft operate on continuous loops, a delay in Delhi will likely trigger late departures for flights that never even touch the capital.

A "Perfect Storm" of Travel Chaos

Industry experts warn that the timing could not be worse. Delhi is currently grappling with heavy winter fog, which already causes daily diversions and delays.

"With the airport already operating at near-full capacity, there is zero slack in the system to absorb these changes," the report noted. "If visibility drops during the limited operating windows, we could see total chaos at the terminals."

Airlines now face a frantic scramble to reroute passengers, verify "misconnecting" guests, and manage IRROPS (Irregular Operations). For carriers like Air India and IndiGo, this is an expensive logistical nightmare involving refunds and re-accommodation.

Advice for Passengers

If you are booked to fly in or out of Delhi between January 21 and January 26, aviation authorities suggest the following:

Update Contact Info: Ensure your mobile number and email are correct in the airline's system to receive instant alerts.

Check Alternative Flights: If your flight is cancelled, airlines usually offer a free change. Accepting an alternative flight is often cheaper than taking a refund and rebooking at today's higher last-minute fares.

Allow Extra Buffer Time: Even if your flight is outside the NOTAM window, expect secondary delays throughout the day.

Calls for Better Planning

The announcement, made just eight days before the closure, has sparked a debate regarding India’s ambitions to turn Delhi into a global transit hub. Critics argue that since Republic Day is a fixed annual event, NOTAMs should be issued months in advance. Such last-minute notices risk damaging passenger confidence and disrupting the seamless "hub" experience the government aims to project.