India-Russia air traffic rises 29% as Aeroflot adds winter capacity
Passenger traffic between India and Russia reached 185,000 in January-August 2026, up 29% year on year. Aeroflot cites tourism, student travel and business demand, with 15 weekly winter flights including Moscow-Delhi and Goa services.
What happened
Aeroflot reported 29% growth in India-Russia passenger traffic in January-August 2026, supported by tourism, student travel and business delegations. The
Key facts
- 185,000 passengers carried between India and Russia in January-August 2026, up 29% YoY
- 131,000 Moscow-Delhi passengers in January-August 2026, up 22% YoY
- 242,000 passengers carried in 2025
- About 1 million passengers carried over the past five years
- 15 weekly winter flights
Why this matters
India-Russia passenger traffic grew 29% year on year, signaling stronger winter footfall opportunities for airport retail, hospitality and tourism-facing operators on Moscow, Delhi and Goa routes.
What to watch
- Aeroflot winter schedule execution, including the number of weekly Delhi and Goa frequencies actually operated.
- India-Russia route load factors, average fares and advance booking trends for October-March.
- Goa hotel occupancy, ADR and Russian visitor arrivals relative to prior winter seasons.
- Changes to Indian or Russian visa rules, aviation rights, travel advisories or insurance restrictions.
- Availability and reliability of cross-border card, banking and foreign-exchange payment options.