The airspace within a 300 km radius of Delhi will remain closed from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on October 3 and October 14 when the opening and closing ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games would be held, the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on Saturday.
A statement issued by the Ministry said no flights shall be permitted to take off or land at the Delhi Airport and other airports within 300 km radium during the said periods. However, routine commercial flights; Indian Air Force, Border Security Force and ARC flights and State-owned aircrafts or helicopters flying the Governor or the Chief Minister within the States falling in this 300 km will be exempted subject to prior clearance from the Union Home Ministry.
There would also be a ban on flying of micro light aircraft and hang gliders from flying clubs and other airports during this period. Safdarjung Airport will also remain closed and only IAF helicopters on emergency duty or on VVIP duty would be able to fly from there.
Meanwhile, national carrier Air India has announced that it would be operating special flights from Auckland and Brisbane to New Delhi on September 27 and 29 to bring officials and players for the Commonwealth Games.
An Air India spokesperson said: “Australia and New Zealand are sending big contingents and thus contacted us for special flights. As the national carrier is the official partner airlines for the Games, we are organising these special flights in addition to the regular ones. While 220 players and officials are coming from Auckland, 282 are coming from Brisbane.”
Flight AI 5411 with a B 777 LR aircraft will leave Auckland on September 27 at 7 p.m. and arrive here on September 28 at 2-45 a.m. The other flight AI 5417 with B 777 ER aircraft will leave Brisbane on September 29 at 9 p.m. and arrive in Delhi on September 30 at 4-55 a.m.
The national carrier is also going festive ahead of the Games and has launched two special schemes for its passengers. According to one scheme, titled “Jumble 12”, anyone with 12 Air India boarding passes from October 1 to November 14 would be entitled to a free return ticket originating from Delhi for a domestic route. The passes can be in the names of several people.
The other scheme, “Lucky 7”, will entitle anyone with seven boarding passes in their name to a free return ticket originating from Delhi on a domestic route. These passes would also be transferable. For both the schemes, the free ticket will be an open one and must be availed of within three months of the date of issue.
