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UAE-India airfares rise up to 25% on average, faster than those of other countries
With demand outpacing supply, especially during peak seasons, the UAE–India air corridor is the world’s fifth busiest, offering 2.08 million seats in February 2026
- PUBLISHED: Thu 26 Feb 2026, 11:16 AM UPDATED: Thu 26 Feb 2026, 11:31 AM
Airfares between India and the UAE are rising faster than those on other international routes, despite calls from the travel industry to expand capacity.
Industry executives say that during peak travel seasons, such as the summer holidays, average UAE-India airfares can increase by up to 25 per cent.
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In contrast, airfares to other busy destinations, such as Saudi Arabia and the UK, rise by less than 20 per cent during their respective peak periods.
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The UAE-India and UAE-Saudi Arabia air corridors have been ranked among the world’s 20 busiest air corridors in terms of seat capacity in February 2026.
According to OAG, India-UAE is the world’s fifth busiest air route with 2.08 million seats this month.
In March 2025, the India-UAE route was ranked sixth busiest with 2.3 million seats.
Due to high demand, travel industry experts in the UAE have been calling for increased capacity; however, talks between the two countries have been fruitless so far.
Imtiaz Hussain, CEO of UAEVisaTravel.com, part of Pinoy Tourism, said their data indicated that UAE–India airfares tend to experience stronger seasonal fluctuations, with peak-period increases averaging 15–25 per cent, particularly during school holidays and festive travel periods.
“In comparison, airfares on UAE–KSA routes typically rise by 8–12 per cent during peak periods, while those on UAE–UK routes fluctuate between 10–18 per cent depending on long-haul demand cycles. The UAE–India corridor often shows sharper fare spikes, driven by higher passenger volumes and limited seat availability during these busy periods,” Hussain said.
He added that the UAE-India corridor clearly operates on a bulk-demand model.
“India remains a volume-driven market due to its population size, frequent family travel, and repeat short-term visits. However, while India leads in overall numbers, the UK market demonstrates stronger per-customer value, with higher average package spending. In short, India drives volume, while the UK often delivers higher margins per booking,” said Imtiaz Hussain.
Demand outpacing supply in peak season
Raheesh Babu, COO, musafir.com, said UAE–India airfares have remained under upward pressure, largely due to demand outpacing capacity, particularly during peak travel periods, resulting in last-minute price spikes and early sell-outs.
“Since 2022, average fares on the India sector have increased by approximately 10–15 per cent. Similarly, the UAE–UK and UAE–KSA routes have experienced comparable fare growth, driven by seasonal capacity constraints and major events. Despite these increases, the India corridor continues to be one of the most price-competitive and high-volume routes for travellers,” Babu told Khaleej Times.
While India remains the UAE’s largest market in terms of overall passenger volume, he said the UAE–Saudi corridor is currently witnessing faster percentage growth, driven largely by increased business activity and stronger bilateral engagement between the two countries.
“The India sector continues to demonstrate steady and robust growth of approximately 10 per cent, with Saudi Arabia also recording similar upward momentum. The UAE–UK corridor remains relatively stable, with demand largely seasonal and predominantly driven by premium and leisure travel segments,” he concluded.
