Flight Suspensions Highlight Cultural Traditions in Thiruvananthapuram

Flight operations at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will be suspended for five hours on October 30 to accommodate the Alpassi Arattu procession of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) announced that flights would not operate between 4.45 pm and 9.00 pm on this particular day.

This suspension follows a historical tradition, where the airport halts operations twice a year, in deference to the centuries-old ceremonial procession that crosses the runway. This arrangement was initially established when the airport was built, upon the stipulation by Travancore King Sree Chithira Thirunal, that the facility remains open for 363 days annually, reserving two days for the deity Lord Padmanabha.

Even after the management transition to the Adani Group, this practice continues. The airport issues a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) biannually, in preparation for the Alpassi festival in October-November and the Painkuni festival in March-April. The Alpassi festival is an annual grand celebration, while Painkuni spans ten days with daily rituals.