West Asia turmoil pushes Delhi airport to focus on booming Asia-Pacific routes

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) disclosed that its international passenger traffic grew 0.8% year-on-year to 8.62 million between April and August of FY27, a rise masked by shifting travel patterns. Traffic to the Asia-Pacific region jumped 11.4% to 3.57 million, compensating for falls of 4.1% to the Middle East, 26.2% to North America and 10.9% to Africa, while Europe saw a modest 0.9% increase. The downturn to traditional hubs is linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis and a less welcoming environment for Indian students in North America.

DIAL chief executive Pradeep Panicker highlighted new or pending services by Philippine Airlines to Manila, EVA Air to Taipei, Hunny Air to Mongolia and Ural Airlines to Russia, all slated for the winter schedule starting 25 October. The airport is also urging carriers to add Vietnam frequencies and is working with Indian airlines to expand long-haul capacity to Japan, Australia and New Zealand using newer wide-body and long-range narrow-body aircraft. The shift underscores Asia-Pacific markets becoming a key growth engine for Delhi and Indian carriers overall.