Following closure of air space around Chandigarh on account of an ongoing security exercise undertaken by the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force, the movement of a few commercial flights was affected. The disruption is expected to continue till October 31, when the exercise concludes.

On Thursday, the recently introduced morning flight to Delhi by Jet Airways (scheduled departure 10:35 am) was cancelled, while the Kingfisher flight to Delhi was preponed by 1.5 hours (it took off at 2 pm).

The flight will depart in advance on Friday too while the Jet Airways flight has been cancelled. Other flights from Chandigarh were reported to be operating on their scheduled timings.

According to airport and Air Force authorities, prior intimation had been given to all airlines affected by the exercise. “The security exercise is coordinated and conducted by the Western Air Command involving all the Air Force stations under it. The departure and arrival of some flights may be changed, which has already been conveyed to the airlines in advance,” said Air Officer Commanding Air Commodore S R K Nair.

Passengers can expect some respite though. “We will meet Air Force authorities to see if some flights can be accommodated with prior permission,” said Chandigarh Airport Director Suneel Dutt.