Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Indian Airlines Lose International Traffic Share Amid Q2 Decline
Fewer people flew internationally to and from India in the second quarter of 2026.
The period covered April, May and June.
Indian airlines carried many fewer passengers than they did during the same period in 2025.
Their share of the international market dropped from 46.2% to 37.3%.
Foreign airlines carried more passengers during the quarter.
April was especially difficult for Indian carriers.
Analysts said airspace restrictions forced some planes to take longer routes.
These longer flights used more fuel and reduced airlines’ profits.
India’s international passenger traffic fell to 1.72 crore in April-June 2026, down 8.99% year-on-year.
Indian airlines carried 64.14 lakh international passengers, a decline of more than 26% from Q2 2025.
Their international market share fell from 46.2% to 37.3%, while foreign carriers increased traffic by nearly 6%.
April was the worst month for Indian carriers, with passenger numbers falling almost 40% year-on-year to 18.24 lakh.
Airspace restrictions, including Pakistani airspace closure, forced longer routes and raised fuel costs and fares.
- Who
- Indian airlines, foreign airlines and international air passengers.
- What
- International passenger traffic fell, with Indian airlines suffering a sharp decline in passengers and market share.
- When
- April-June 2026, compared with April-June 2025; April recorded the steepest decline.
- Where
- International routes to and from India, including the Dubai-Mumbai route.
- Why
- Airspace restrictions linked to geopolitical conflicts in West Asia and the closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian carriers caused longer, costlier flight routes.
- Total international traffic
- 1.72 crore passengers in Q2 2026, down from 1.89 crore a year earlier.
- Indian airline traffic
- 64.14 lakh passengers in Q2 2026, compared with 87.34 lakh in Q2 2025.
- Indian airline market share
- 37.3% in Q2 2026, down from 46.2% in Q2 2025.
- Foreign airline traffic
- 1.07 crore passengers in Q2 2026, versus 1.01 crore in Q2 2025.
- April decline
- Indian carriers carried 18.24 lakh passengers in April 2026, down from 30.07 lakh in April 2025.
- Largest traffic market
- The United Arab Emirates recorded the highest international traffic, with 22.99 lakh arrivals and 22.61 lakh departures.
- Busiest city pair
- The Dubai-Mumbai route served more than 4.89 lakh passengers during the quarter.