Hyderabad: Air passenger traffic between Hyderabad and several major Gulf destinations has declined in the first half of 2026 amid continuing conflict in West Asia, airspace disruptions and heightened security concerns in the region.
According to the latest Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data, two-way passenger traffic between Hyderabad and 12 major Gulf destinations fell from 17.65 lakh in January-June 2025 to 15.22 lakh during the corresponding period in 2026. This represents a decline of around 2.43 lakh passengers.
The destinations covered include Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Madinah, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Doha, Kuwait See Sharp Traffic Declines
Doha recorded one of the largest declines among the routes, with two-way passenger traffic falling from around 2.43 lakh in the first half of 2025 to 1.43 lakh in the first half of 2026, a decline of about 41.1%.
Hyderabad-Kuwait traffic also declined by 31.4%, falling from 85,673 passengers to 58,775 during the period.
The Hyderabad-Madinah route recorded a particularly sharp quarter-on-quarter decline. Two-way passenger traffic fell from 20,344 passengers in the first quarter of 2026 to 3,339 in the second quarter, a decline of about 84%.
Flight Disruptions Hit Gulf Connectivity
The fall in traffic follows periods of disruption to air connectivity between Hyderabad and Gulf destinations during the escalation involving Iran earlier this year.
In late February, 44 international flights at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport were cancelled, affecting services to and from destinations including Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Kuwait, Sharjah, Jeddah and Madinah.
The disruption was part of a wider impact on international aviation. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said on March 3 that 1,221 flights operated by Indian carriers and 388 flights operated by foreign airlines had been cancelled because of the West Asia airspace situation.
Security Concerns Add to Travel Uncertainty
Fresh security concerns have also emerged in Saudi Arabia, an important destination for Hyderabad residents travelling for Umrah.
On September 16, Saudi authorities said their air defences had intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Makkah before it entered the holy city's restricted airspace. Saudi authorities attributed the drone to the Houthis, while the group denied targeting Makkah.
The incident came amid renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis and broader regional tensions. Jeddah and Madinah remain important destinations for passengers travelling for Umrah.
Travel Demand Remains Under Pressure
Mohammed Omer Ali, founder and director of Musafir Services, said there had been a noticeable decline in Hyderabad-Gulf travel demand.
He said non-essential travellers were postponing or deferring trips because of concerns over possible airspace closures and flight disruptions. According to Ali, Dubai and Bahrain were among the destinations that saw significant impact, while Umrah travel was also affected.
He added that Jeddah, Madinah, Doha and Kuwait experienced declines across Umrah, leisure and discretionary travel, while essential labour and business travel continued.
The outlook for the upcoming Diwali and New Year travel periods is expected to depend on regional stability and greater clarity over airspace safety, according to the travel industry representative.
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