Hyderabad, Sept. 17 -- Hyderabad's air traffic to the Gulf has come under pressure in 2026 amid the continuing conflict involving Iran and wider security concerns across West Asia, with passenger numbers declining on several key routes.

According to the latest Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data, two-way passenger traffic between Hyderabad and 12 major Gulf destinations fell from 17.65 lakh in January-June 2025 to 15.22 lakh in the first half of 2026, a decline of around 2.43 lakh passengers.

The destinations covered are Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Madinah, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

Doha recorded one of the sharpest declines, with two-way passenger traffic falling from around 2....