Trivandrum airport halts flights on Tue

Flight operations at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will be suspended for five hours on October 20 to allow the traditional Arattu procession of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple to pass across the runway.

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) said on Sunday that flight services would remain suspended from 4 pm to 9 pm to facilitate the temple’s ‘Alpassi Arattu’ procession. Passengers have been advised to check revised flight timings with their respective airlines.

Also read: Vietnam Airlines set to fly non-stop between Hanoi and Ahmedabad from November 2026

The temporary suspension is part of a centuries-old tradition associated with the Travancore royal family. The procession takes the ceremonial idols of the temple to Shangumugham beach for a ritual holy bath before returning to the shrine.

The airport has adjusted its operations twice a year for decades to accommodate the temple’s biannual Arattu processions. The practice continues despite the growth of the airport and changes in its management.

The tradition dates back to the period of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom and has continued since the airport was established in 1932.

Also read: Indian passport rises to 84th rank in Henley Passport Index 2026; visa-free access to 55 destinations

According to historians, the then Travancore king, Sree Chithira Thirunal, had stipulated that the airport would remain open to the public for 363 days a year, with the remaining two days reserved for Lord Padmanabha, the titular deity of the royal family.

The ritual has continued even after the Adani Group took over the airport’s management. The runway crossing is a distinctive feature of the ceremony, reflecting the historical relationship between the temple, the former royal family and the airport. The temporary closure requires airlines to adjust their schedules to accommodate the procession.

Passengers travelling to or from Thiruvananthapuram on October 20 should check with their airlines for updated departure and arrival times before heading to the airport.