India recorded higher outbound than inbound scheduled international passenger traffic during the January–March 2026 quarter, according to the latest provisional country-wise international traffic statistics released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). During the period, 9.77 million passengers departed India, compared with 9.33 million passengers arriving in the country.
The DGCA data shows a total of 19.1 million scheduled international passenger movements during the first quarter of 2026, comprising 9,332,607 passengers travelling to India and 9,767,964 passengers travelling from India.
The United Arab Emirates remained India’s largest international market, recording 2,485,192 inbound passengers and 2,519,478 outbound passengers. Thailand ranked second with 783,159 passengers travelling to India and 810,500 passengers travelling from India, while Singapore handled 657,715 inbound passengers and 744,051 outbound passengers. Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom completed the top five international passenger markets during the quarter.
Gulf markets account for significant passenger volumes
Besides the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Qatar recorded 385,833 passengers travelling to India and 397,931 passengers travelling from India. Oman handled 319,228 inbound passengers and 332,765 outbound passengers, while Kuwait registered 155,607 arrivals and 184,351 departures during the quarter.
Southeast Asia remains among the busiest regions
Malaysia recorded 465,659 passengers travelling to India and 503,234 passengers travelling from India, while Vietnam handled 193,273 inbound passengers and 201,082 outbound passengers. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives also featured among the larger international markets in terms of scheduled passenger traffic during the January–March 2026 period.
Among long-haul destinations, the United Kingdom recorded 559,601 inbound passengers and 577,380 outbound passengers, followed by the United States with 146,654 passengers travelling to India and 149,310 passengers travelling from India. Germany, France, Canada, and Australia also recorded substantial scheduled passenger traffic during the quarter.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.