Ahmedabad: Months of turbulence in West Asia airspace is beginning to show up in Ahmedabad airport’s passenger numbers. International passenger traffic at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport has witnessed a steep decline over the past three months, with airport data showing an average fall of 27% in footfall amid continuing airspace disruptions and operational uncertainty across parts of the West Asia over the past two months.Figures shared by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) show that international passenger footfall dropped from 1.95 lakh in March 2025 to 1.31 lakh in March 2026, marking a decline of 32.7% year on year. This April, passenger numbers at the city airport dropped to 1.49 lakh from 1.9 lakh in April last year, representing a 21.9% decrease in footfall.Airport sources attributed the downturn primarily to repeated airspace closures, flight cancellations, and schedule disruptions affecting Gulf-bound operations, which is a key component of Ahmedabad’s international air traffic network.“Ahmedabad has a very strong dependence on Gulf connectivity, both for labour and business travel. Any disruption in West Asia airspace immediately impacts passenger movement here,” said an airport source.The disruptions began intensifying after several countries in the West Asia imposed temporary airspace restrictions amid escalating regional tensions earlier this year. Multiple airlines suspended or rerouted flights to destinations including Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, and other Gulf hubs. Industry stakeholders said passengers have also become increasingly cautious due to fears of delays, rerouting, extended travel durations, and last-minute cancellations.“Even where flights are operational, uncertainty itself reduces demand. Many travellers are postponing discretionary trips or opting to wait for stability. Overall this year, we saw a 30-40% decline in international tour bookings during April and May. This has reflected in passenger footfall at the Ahmedabad airport, which is a key hub for international travel from Gujarat,” said Virendra Shah, ex-chairperson of the Travel Agents’ Association of India (Gujarat chapter).Global aviation bodies have also flagged the impact of the West Asia conflict on airlines worldwide, with rising fuel prices, longer flying routes, and schedule cuts affecting profitability and operations.“West Asia-bound flights and bookings have been among the worst-affected during the past two months. Due to the uncertainty, at least 50% of the customers have cancelled their bookings for Gulf-bound destinations, and many others who planned other international sectors have put away their plans,” said Ankit Bajaj, owner of a travel company based in Ahmedabad.
