New Delhi: Your plans to fly in and out of Delhi between September 8 and 11 could get affected as the government has directed commercial airlines to cut 20-25% flights to make parking space for the large number of VVIP aircraft expected at IGI Airport for the G20 Leaders' Summit.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said on Saturday it has already got requests to cancel 80 domestic arrivals and as many departures. Airlines say they will be required to cut over 700 commercial flights and are working out cancellations.
While highly placed sources say this has been necessitated due to 52 Airbus A320 aircraft of IndiGo and GoAir being grounded here for months following Pratt & Whitney (PW) engine issues and then replacement engines being nowhere in sight - leaving less than required parking slots for planes of the large number of dignitaries who will be here for G20 - DIAL said it has adequate parking. "...cancellation of flights has no linkage to parking of aircraft. We have already provided required parking. Decision on cancellations of flights have been taken by airlines possibly in light of traffic restrictions due to G20 summit," DIAL said in a statement.
Heads of almost 30 states, their delegations and representatives of international organisations are flying into Delhi for the Leaders' Summit - the largest gathering of the global who's who in India ever.
"Delhi Airport is fully equipped with ample parking space for aircraft. So far we have received requests for cancellation of about 80 departing and 80 arriving domestic flights over three days, which is mere 6% of the normal domestic operations at Delhi Airport. The restrictions will not cause any impact on international flights," the statement said, adding it is "working closely with airlines to minimize any inconvenience caused to passengers."
27/08/2023 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
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