Airspace constraints and airport shutdowns across parts of the Middle East are beginning to reshape travel behaviour, with Indian travellers pivoting to Southeast Asia and domestic destinations in recent weeks.

Neel Ghose, Travel Trends and Destinations Expert at Skyscanner, said the impact of Middle East disruptions is being felt far beyond the region. “Airspace closures and airport shutdowns across key Middle Eastern hubs are having an immediate knock-on effect for travellers worldwide, not just those flying directly into the region,” he said.

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Data from ixigo shows a sharp shift in booking patterns this month, as flyers opt for routes perceived to be more stable and easier to access. The change comes at a time when the Middle East has traditionally been among the most popular outbound corridors for Indian travellers.

Vietnam has emerged as the top beneficiary of this shift, recording a 130% year-on-year jump in flight bookings. Nepal followed with an 88% increase, while Sri Lanka saw a 68% rise. Other Southeast Asian destinations such as Indonesia (33%), Singapore (32%) and Thailand (22%) also posted steady growth.

“Travel patterns are seeing a noticeable shift, with Indian travellers increasingly exploring a wider mix of international destinations this month,” said Aloke Bajpai, co-founder and group CEO, ixigo. “While the Middle East has traditionally been among the top international destinations for Indian travellers this time of the year, recent weeks have seen preferences shift towards a broader set of markets amid evolving global dynamics.”

Domestic travel gains ground

The shift is not limited to international routes. Domestic leisure travel has picked up pace as well, with travellers favouring shorter, predictable trips closer to home.

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Udaipur led the surge with a 69% year-on-year increase in flight bookings, followed by Jodhpur (47%), Bagdogra (44%) and Srinagar (41%). Agartala also saw a 38% rise, while established leisure markets such as Goa (22%), Jammu (18%) and Dehradun (17%) continued to grow steadily.

The broader trend points to a preference for convenience and reduced travel uncertainty, especially as disruptions ripple through global aviation networks.

However, inbound interest in India remains stable. “We’re seeing searches by global travellers to India have remained consistent and at the levels we would expect for this time of the year, with the top origin countries including the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia,” Ghose added.