New Delhi, January 17:  Thousands of fliers travelling to and out of Delhi will be affected for several days till January 26 as the airspace over the national capital will be suspended for eight days for Republic Day rehearsals and parade. According to a tweet by ANI, the airspace will remain suspended at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on 18 January and from January 20 to January 26. According to details by Delhi airport sources, the airspace will remain shut for 2 hours on these days, from 10:35 am to 12:15 pm. However, there will be relaxation in the suspension on January 19.

With the order in place, about 15,000 passengers are likely to be affected every day because of the decision. Airspace closures always happen in the national capital during the Republic Day week. Reports inform that the airspace over Delhi is closed for 60 minutes to 90 minutes daily for a week ahead of January 26 for rehearsals every year. Republic Day 2019: Try These Indian Nail Art Designs This 26th January That Are Beyond Creative. 

According to reports, as many as 616 schoolchildren will be performing at the upcoming Republic Day celebrations, the Directorate of Education informed. In 2018, the theme of the republic day celebrations is principles of Mahatma Gandhi. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the Chief Guest at India's 70th Republic Day celebrations this year. Ramaphosa was invited to be the chief guest by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 17, 2019 04:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).