India’s aviation sector witnessed a slowdown in April, with both domestic and international passenger traffic declining amid disruptions caused by the ongoing West Asia conflict, according to official data.
Figures released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation showed domestic air travel fell to 140.8 lakh passengers during the month, marking a 4 per cent decline both year-on-year and compared to March.
The impact was significantly sharper on international routes, where passenger traffic dropped 20 per cent month-on-month to 28.3 lakh, reflecting reduced connectivity and operational disruptions across key sectors.
The downturn has been attributed to instability in West Asia, which led to flight disruptions, airspace restrictions, and reduced frequency of services on major international routes connecting India to the Gulf and beyond.
However, early signs of recovery are emerging as several countries in the region begin easing restrictions. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have resumed normal air navigation services after lifting precautionary curbs, enabling airlines to gradually restore operations.
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Following this, Indian carriers and UAE-based airlines have started reinstating flights between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs said, adding that connectivity is steadily improving.
Flight services from Saudi Arabia and Oman to India continue to operate, while airspace in Qatar remains partially open with limited routes functioning.
Airspace over Kuwait and Bahrain is fully open, supporting regular services, while limited operations are underway in Iraq.
In Iran, airspace access remains restricted, largely limited to cargo and chartered flights. The Indian government has advised its nationals to avoid travel to Iran and urged those present to leave via land routes with assistance from the Indian Embassy in Tehran. More than 2,500 Indians have so far been facilitated to exit through such arrangements.
Meanwhile, Israel has reopened its airspace for limited operations, allowing indirect connectivity to India through regional transit hubs.
Officials indicated that the overall situation in West Asia is gradually stabilising, with more flight operations expected to resume in the coming days. This could help improve passenger traffic trends in the coming months after a sharp April decline.
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