IGI flights continue during the BRICS Summit; these smaller aircraft, drones and flying schools face curbs

The claim that no flights can take off or land at Indira Gandhi International Airport is misleading. Scheduled airline operations are exempt from the special airspace restrictions, and airlines have advised passengers to check flight status and allow more time to reach the terminal rather than assume their flight is cancelled.

Flying-training organisations in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh were told to stop flying activity during the restricted period. Light and microlight aircraft and long-range unmanned aircraft face controls within 300km of Delhi, with tighter rules for drones and other short-range recreational flying closer to the city.

Reports place the restrictions from 7am on Friday, September 11, until 11pm on Sunday, September 13. Those timestamps span 64 hours, so the “52-hour” description appearing in some coverage is mathematically inconsistent and should not be repeated without clarification. (Representative picture)

Safdarjung Airport is closed during the security period except for specified emergency or security flights, while Rohini helipad is reported as fully closed. Approved summit flights, certain IAF, BSF and Aviation Research Centre operations, emergency Army helicopters and specified state flights remain permitted under the notified exceptions.

IndiGo’s advisory focuses on city traffic management and diversions, not a shutdown of airline service. Travellers should recheck their airline app, complete web check-in when available and leave earlier than usual; Delhi Police recommends using Metro services where practical because VVIP convoys may temporarily restrict roads.