Thiruvananthapuram Airport Halts Flights 4–9 PM Today for Aarattu

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will suspend all flight operations for five hours, from 4 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday, October 20, so that the Alpassi Arattu procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple can cross its runway, according to an announcement by the airport operator, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL), on October 18. The procession carries the temple’s idols across the airfield to Shangumugham beach for a ritual bath, a practice older than the airport itself.

Check Flight Timings Before Leaving Home

As in past years, flights that fall in the five-hour window are being rescheduled. Passengers, including those on Gulf routes, have been advised to check flight status with their airline, confirm any revised departure or arrival time, and allow extra time for check-in. Travellers in the city should also expect crowds and traffic restrictions near the temple, the airport and Shangumugham in the evening. The city is also hosting the AUSTRAHIND 2026 India-Australia army exercise this fortnight.

A Runway Shared With a Deity Since 1932

The procession follows a route that existed before the airport opened in 1932, and the airport closes for it twice a year: for the Alpassi festival in October–November and the Painkuni festival in March–April. Members of the former Travancore royal family, priests, caparisoned elephants and mounted police take part, and the temple issues passes to participants. The last closure was on April 2 this year. More on the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and other short updates is in Quick Reads.

Source: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) announcement, as reported by Deccan Herald / PTI. Also based on reporting by Gulf News and Onmanorama.

Image: Gulf News.