Middle East Tensions Weigh on India’s Air Travel, April Traffic Slips

New Delhi — India’s aviation sector saw a noticeable dip in passenger traffic in April, as ongoing tensions in the Middle East disrupted flight operations and travel demand.

According to data from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, both domestic and international air traffic declined compared to March. Domestic travel dropped to 140.8 lakh passengers, marking a 4% fall both year-on-year and month-on-month.

The impact was more severe on international routes, where passenger numbers fell by nearly 20% to 28.3 lakh. The decline is largely attributed to disruptions in key Middle Eastern air corridors, a crucial hub for India’s global connectivity.

There are, however, signs of recovery. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority has announced the full restoration of normal airspace operations, leading to a gradual resumption of flights between India and the UAE. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that airlines have started increasing services on these routes.

Flight operations across the wider Middle East are also stabilising:

• From Saudi Arabia and Oman, services to India continue without major disruptions.
• Qatar has partially reopened its airspace, with carriers like Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and Qatar Airways operating flights.
• Kuwait and Bahrain have fully open airspace, with multiple airlines resuming operations.
• Iraq is allowing limited flights, mainly for regional connectivity.
• Iran has partially opened airspace for cargo and chartered services. India has advised its citizens to avoid travel there, and the Indian Embassy in Tehran has already assisted 2,504 nationals in exiting via land routes.
• Israel has also resumed limited flight operations.

While disruptions are easing and more flights are being restored, the April figures highlight how geopolitical tensions can quickly impact aviation flows—especially for a country like India that relies heavily on Middle Eastern transit routes for international travel.

With inputs from IANS