Thai-Fly! India Soars to #2 in Thailand's Air Passenger Charts

Key highlights

 

India has officially become Thailand's second-largest foreign air passenger market for the summer of 2025, in a dramatic turn of events driven by soaring connectivity, tourism demand, and a surging aviation sector in both countries. The benchmark underscores India's emergence as a powerhouse in cross-border air travel, reshaping tourism and business flows across Southeast Asia.

 

Record Growth and Connectivity

 

India contributed the most scheduled international seats to Thailand in Southeast Asia, reaching 3.8 million seats in 2025—a 21% growth from 2019 and a record number of routes between the two nations. A total of 39 active routes link 19 Indian cities with Thailand's three main airports: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Don Mueang, and Phuket—ten more than before the pandemic.

 

The India market leapfrogged to the No. 2 position after China, bypassing other major inbound source markets as a result of China's rapid air capacity growth and liberalized travel policies, particularly during the peak summer travel period.

 

Budget airlines and full-service carriers, such as IndiGo, Thai AirAsia, and Thai Airways, are driving the boom. IndiGo itself flies 14 of the routes, and Thai AirAsia tops the list with 16, indicating high competition and increasing customer choice.

 

Why the Growth?

 

Robust outbound Indian leisure travel, pent-up demand since the pandemic, and Thailand's continuous investment in tourist promotions have all been behind this record-breaking growth.

 

India's expanding middle class and the number of new airport projects and airline fleet orders in the pipeline ensure continued momentum, with the country's air passenger growth rate to surpass that of China from 2026, according to Airports Council International.

 

Future Outlook As there is more infrastructure development and additional airport growth in India, bilateral air capacity and tourist movement between the two nations should also keep growing.

 

Thailand now relies more on the Indian traveler segment—not just leisure but also MICE, business, and wedding tourism—so India is a cornerstone of its inbound tourism recovery strategy.

 

Sources: Business Standard, OAG, Indian Express