27% Dip in International Flights as West Asia Conflict Hits Ahmedabad Airport
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The ongoing conflict in West Asia over the past few months has impacted passenger traffic at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, with the number of foreign travellers declining by 18%.
In May 2026, the airport recorded 1.80 lakh international passengers, compared to 2.23 lakh passengers in May 2025.
International operations witness sharp decline
Passenger traffic at airports generally rises during the summer vacation period in May. However, this year, Ahmedabad airport witnessed a drop in international travel amid the conflict in West Asia.
The number of foreign passengers had already fallen to 1.49 lakh in April. Meanwhile, international flight operations also registered a significant decline, dropping by 27% compared to the same month last year.
As many as 1,098 international flights operated from Ahmedabad airport in May 2026, down from 1,451 flights in May 2025.
Domestic passenger traffic crosses 10 lakh
Despite the fall in international traffic, domestic travel from Ahmedabad airport recorded strong growth during the summer vacation season.
The airport handled 10.59 lakh domestic passengers in May 2026, up from 9.97 lakh passengers in May last year. A total of 7,737 domestic flights operated during the month.
Among domestic destinations, Surat recorded the second-highest passenger movement with 1.59 lakh travellers, while Rajkot ranked third with 1.20 lakh passengers.
