PANAJI: Goa has recorded a steep decline in international air passenger traffic, with Dabolim registering a 69% fall and Mopa a 42% drop during the April-June quarter, according to the latest data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The decline is significantly higher than the national trend. International passenger traffic across India fell by around 10% during the first quarter of the financial year. Indian carriers saw a sharper 27% decline in international passengers, while foreign airlines recorded a 6% increase. The share of international passengers carried by Indian airlines consequently fell from 46% to 37%.
Goa is among the smaller aviation markets to record a substantial contraction. Industry observers note that percentage changes can be particularly pronounced at smaller airports when airlines withdraw or reduce service. Other Tier-2 cities, including Surat, Chandigarh, Indore, Kannur, and Pune, also reported sharp declines.
The contraction is notable as April-June is generally a strong travel period, supported by school vacations and increased leisure travel.
Among Indian carriers, Akasa Air was the only major exception, recording a 26% rise in international passengers. IndiGo reported a 15% decline, while Air India Express and SpiceJet saw falls of 51% and 56%, respectively.
The reduction in Air India Express services has affected international connectivity, particularly to Gulf destinations. Its operations were affected by the conflict in West Asia, as well as higher fuel prices and other operational pressures.
Major metropolitan airports largely saw more modest changes. Kolkata recorded an increase, Delhi remained broadly stable, while Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad registered declines of 3.9%, 5.3%, 7.9% and 10%, respectively.
