Flight operations at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will be halted for five hours on November 9 to accommodate the ‘Alpassi Arattu’ procession from the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the airport authority announced on Saturday.
The annual procession traditionally follows a route that crosses the runway. According to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL), flights will be suspended from 4 PM to 9 PM on that day, and passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for updated flight schedules.
The runway closure for this procession, which leads to Shangumugham Beach for a sacred ritual bath of the idols, has been a long-standing tradition, persisting even after the airport’s establishment in 1932. TIAL emphasized the importance of maintaining local culture and traditions through this practice.
Historically, when the airport was built, the then Travancore King Sree Chithira Thirunal specified that the facility would be operational for 363 days a year, reserving two days for the rituals dedicated to Lord Padmanabha, the royal family’s deity. This tradition continues today, even under the management of the Adani Group.
Each year, a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is issued prior to the runway’s closure during the bi-annual Alpassi festival in October-November and the Painkuni festival in March-April, ensuring that all aviation operations are aware of the temporary suspension.