Air show to delay flights

Aero India will hold air traffic for five hours everyday this week, affecting over 100 flight schedules across India

Air show to delay flights

Aero India will hold air traffic for five hours everyday this week, affecting over 100 flight schedules across India

Aero India, the country's most prestigious air show will not only show off India's best fighter planes, but will also ground more than a few commercial jets from flying during the coming week. This is because Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) will be partially shutting down air space for almost five hours on a daily basis, affecting over 100 flights across India.

Change is in the air! Authorities are trying to ensure that passengers
are put through minimum inconvenience because of the partial closure
of airspace

On the days of the main event, (February 9-13), airport operations will be halted for an even longer
period; from 10 am to 12 pm, and then again from 2:30 pm until 5pm. On the days of the event practice and rehearsals (from February 6-8), BIAL will halt operations from 10 am to 12 pm and then again from 2 pm until 3:30 pm.

Previously, BIAL was termed as the fourth busiest airport in terms of overall passenger traffic. On a daily basis, 132 domestic, and 23 international flights land and take off from BIAL. Marcel Hungerbuehler, President, BIAL said, "We will also work to ensure that our passengers and airlines are put through minimum inconvenience because of resultant partial closure and restriction of air space usage. We are proud that the Aero India show is being held in our city not only attracting distinguished international visitors to the city, but more importantly drawing global attention and business to Bangalore."

Airlines' dilemma
About 88 Kingfisher flights, plying to cities such as Mumbai, New Delhi, Kozhikode, Mangalore, Trichy and Chennai will have to fly out according to revised schedules. Jet Airways finds itself in a similar dilemma -- daily flights to Kochi, Goa, Lucknow, Kolkata and Mumbai have also rescheduled their flights.

Air India also fell in line with its counterparts and rescheduled flights to 5 minutes past the deadline on most days, and will operate flights to Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram. Air India's international flights have also been affected by Aero India. Similarly, flights to Dubai and Maldives will be rescheduled to five minutes post close of the rehearsals.

40 Flights per day will be affected because of the show