US-Iran war brings Air India Group's international carriage down 35%, IndiGo's 15.4%

The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has dealt a significant blow to Indian airlines, particularly in terms of their international carriage. In the first quarter of the conflict, which started on February 28, Indian carriers experienced a sharp decline in their international flight operations compared to foreign airlines.

Air India Group, one of the leading Indian carriers, saw its international passenger numbers drop by 36% in the April-June quarter, falling from 43.3 lakh in the same period last year to 27.6 lakh. Meanwhile, IndiGo, another major Indian carrier, reported a 15% decrease in its international passenger numbers, coming in at 33.4 lakh compared to 39.5 lakh in the same period last year.

Foreign carriers, on the other hand, saw a more positive impact from the US-Iran war. Dubai-based Emirates, which has been operating in the region for a long time, benefited from the UAE's decision to limit the number of foreign airlines' flights. This resulted in a 7% increase in Emirates' international carriage to and from India, reaching 14.8 lakh passengers. Similarly, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad, another Gulf carrier, saw only a slight decrease of 1,939 passengers in its India operations.

The conflict has also exacerbated the challenges faced by Indian airlines due to the closure of Pakistan airspace since April last year. This has impacted their flights between north India, particularly from Delhi, one of the biggest hubs for Air India and IndiGo, and the west. The situation highlights the need for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict, as it is detrimental to the Indian airlines' operations and to the overall aviation industry in the region.