Iran War Highlights Indian Airlines' Reliance on Gulf Hubs

Following the outbreak of the Iran war, India's international aviation network contracted sharply in Q2 2026. Overall international passenger traffic to and from India fell about 9% to 17.2 million, but Indian carriers' international traffic fell about 27% to 6.4 million. Gulf hubs like Dubai and Doha are critical for Indian travelers, and airspace restrictions disrupted flights, with varying impacts across markets.