Bangkok leads top international destinations for Indian Diwali travel

Aviation data specialist Air4casts has identified ten international destinations and airport terminals offering key opportunities during the Indian Diwali travel season, DFNI and Global Travel Retail Magazine reported. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport leads the list, with passenger volume expected to reach 1.69 million Indian travelers in 2026. That figure represents a 5 percent increase compared to 2025. [1][2]

According to DFNI, other major international gateways are also forecast to handle significant numbers of Indian travelers during the holiday period. Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo is projected to receive 844,000 Indian passengers, an increase of 7 percent. Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 is forecast to process 812,000 Indian passengers, which is a 5 percent rise, while Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 is also noted as a fast-growing destination. [1]

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, which is also celebrated in Jainism and Sikhism, and takes place between mid-October and mid-November for five or six days. As FTMQ Travel reported earlier, festive demand from Indian travelers has driven domestic rail and hotel pressures, alongside a surge in international trip bookings. [3][4][5]

Air4casts noted that airports across both Southeast Asia and North America present expanding opportunities for travel retail operators as Indian festive traffic continues to grow, according to DFNI. [1]