International passenger traffic nosedives at Pune airport, while domestic traffic soars

Pune: The ongoing conflict in West Asia has severely impacted international passenger traffic at the city airport, even as domestic travel continues to witness strong growth despite soaring airfares and airlines trimming their services.Data released by airport authorities for the Feb-May 2026 period shows that international passenger traffic plunged by nearly 65% in May compared to Feb. The airport handled 33,309 international passengers in Feb, a figure that dropped sharply to just 11,836 in May.In contrast, domestic passenger traffic grew by nearly 18% during the same period, rising from 8.76 lakh passengers in Feb to 10.29 lakh in May, highlighting sustained demand for domestic air travel despite rising ticket prices.“Airlines have suspended some services amid operational issues and ongoing geopolitical tensions. At present, only one direct flight each to Dubai and Bangkok is operational. Until recently, Pune had two flights to Bangkok, one to Singapore, two to Dubai and one to Abu Dhabi,” an airport official told TOI, requesting anonymity.He added, “The reduction in services has directly impacted passenger numbers. Even the Dubai flight currently operating has not been running at full capacity on several days. However, this trend is visible at many airports and we expect conditions to improve in the coming months.”Airport authorities said domestic traffic has remained resilient despite higher travel costs that are driven largely by elevated aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices. “Many travellers, who shelved international travel plans due to the conflict, appear to have shifted to domestic destinations instead. The holiday season has further boosted demand,” another airport official said.Sushant Taleja, a business executive from Magarpatta, echoed the sentiment. “We had planned a vacation in Europe, but dropped the idea because of the global unrest. Instead, we chose Kashmir for our holiday,” he said.A businessman residing on NIBM Road, choosing anonymity, said that while domestic travel has become expensive, it is still viewed as a safer option. “Travel costs have risen across the board, whether it is airfares, hotel tariffs and food expenses. Fuel price increases have pushed up costs further. But given the current global situation, travelling within the country feels like a safer bet,” he said.Hospitality industry leaders said the shift towards domestic tourism is clearly visible. “We are witnessing a robust summer season, with occupancy levels up 5% compared to the same period last year. Leisure destinations continue to drive growth, with average occupancies approaching 75%. Our hill station properties have recorded 69% growth, while spiritual destinations have seen demand rise by 41%. Jammu & Kashmir, Manali, Mussoorie, Udaipur and Ayodhya have been among the strongest-performing destinations,” said Nikhil Sharma, managing director and COO, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group.He added, “While geopolitical developments in parts of West Asia have affected international travel sentiment, we are seeing a portion of that demand being redirected towards domestic destinations.”At the same time, travel industry stakeholders believe the trend could reverse if domestic travel continues to become more expensive. Santosh Gupta, owner of Shree Vinayak Holidays, told TOI, “It has become extremely difficult to secure confirmed train tickets, even as domestic airfares have surged. A round trip from Pune to Jammu currently costs around Rs28,000 per person, compared to about Rs33,000 for a return trip to Bangkok. On certain dates, fares to some domestic destinations are even higher than international sectors. While visa requirements remain a factor, travellers may increasingly start considering overseas destinations again. With airlines reducing capacity, domestic airfares are expected to rise further.”