Goa Winter Charter Season Begins With Russian Flight at Dabolim

The Takeaway

• Goa’s 2026-27 international charter tourism season began on September 30 with an Aeroflot flight from Moscow arriving at Dabolim Airport.
• The first flight carried 162 Russian tourists, according to reports from the arrival ceremony.
• Around 144 international charter flights are expected at Dabolim between October and March, potentially bringing nearly 25,920 foreign tourists to Goa.
• Aeroflot and Kazakhstan-based SCAT Airlines are expected to account for the currently announced charter programme, with SCAT services scheduled to begin in October.
• Airport authorities have prepared passenger-facilitation arrangements for the winter charter season.

Goa’s 2026-27 international charter tourism season has begun, with the first charter flight of the season arriving at Dabolim Airport on September 30.

The Aeroflot flight arrived from Moscow at around 7:15 am and carried 162 Russian visitors. Goa government representatives, airport officials and Tourism Department representatives were present to welcome the passengers and mark the beginning of the new charter season.

The arrival marks the start of the October-to-March period during which international charter flights are expected to contribute to Goa’s tourism activity.

Around 144 Charter Flights Expected

Pre-season estimates indicate that around 144 foreign charter flights are expected to arrive at Dabolim between October and March, bringing nearly 25,920 foreign tourists to Goa.

The 144 figure is a projected seasonal number, not a formal cap on Dabolim’s charter operations. Actual flight numbers can change depending on airline schedules and operational conditions.

Earlier reports indicated that Aeroflot was expected to operate around 96 charter flights during the season, while SCAT Airlines was expected to operate around 48.

However, reporting after the first arrival indicates that Aeroflot is operating six weekly charter services, connecting Goa with Moscow and Yekaterinburg. SCAT Airlines is also scheduled to operate two weekly services.

Aeroflot Leads the Season’s Opening

The first charter operation came from Russia, one of Goa’s established international tourism markets.

The inaugural Aeroflot flight brought 162 passengers to Dabolim. The arrival was accompanied by a ceremonial welcome, including bouquets, Goan music and a cake-cutting ceremony.

Aeroflot’s seasonal operation is expected to connect Goa with Russian cities including Moscow and Yekaterinburg.

SCAT Airlines to Add Kazakhstan Traffic

International charter traffic is not limited to Russia.

Kazakhstan-based SCAT Airlines is scheduled to begin its charter operations to Dabolim in October. Pre-season schedules indicated two flights per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, with around 48 flights expected during the season.

The addition of Kazakhstan traffic gives Goa another important source market during the winter tourism period.

Airport Preparations

Dabolim Airport and the agencies involved in handling international arrivals have been preparing for the seasonal increase in passenger traffic.

The focus is on passenger facilitation and smooth processing of arriving international travellers, including immigration, customs and ground-handling arrangements.

The Airports Authority of India has also been running a broader passenger-facilitation initiative at Dabolim, with emphasis on assistance, accessibility, cleanliness, information and grievance redressal.

Tourism Businesses Expected to Benefit

The charter season is expected to support several tourism-linked sectors in Goa.

These include hotels, resorts, taxis, travel agencies, tour operators, restaurants, retail businesses and other services that depend on international tourist arrivals.

The benefits should not be described as being restricted only to South Goa. Dabolim serves Goa as a whole, and international visitors can travel to destinations across the state after arriving at the airport.

Dabolim and Mopa Continue to Serve Goa

The start of the charter season comes amid continuing discussion about the roles of Dabolim Airport and Manohar International Airport at Mopa.

Mopa has expanded Goa’s aviation capacity and has attracted new domestic and international services. Dabolim, meanwhile, continues to handle substantial passenger traffic and remains an active airport. Meanwhile, broader initiatives like the National Digital Tourism Stack opens local travel booking show how regional hubs are adapting to changing travel patterns.

Recent reporting quoted Dabolim airport officials as saying the airport handles around 85 flights and 13,000 passengers a day, while also generating significant revenue.

The arrival of the charter season therefore represents continued activity at Dabolim rather than evidence that charter operations are exclusively intended to protect South Goa’s tourism industry.

Charter Flights and Tourist Numbers

The projected 144 charter flights and nearly 25,920 tourists provide an indication of the expected scale of the Dabolim programme.

At the same time, the numbers should not be used to conclude that flight movements are declining while passenger numbers remain unchanged. Such a conclusion would require comparable historical data on aircraft capacity, passenger loads and total charter movements.

Similarly, the current information does not establish that airlines are deliberately replacing flights with larger aircraft to reduce the number of Dabolim movements.

The Unboxed Truth

The 2026-27 international charter season gives Goa another important stream of foreign tourist arrivals during the winter months.

The headline number is around 144 expected charter flights between October and March, but that figure is a projection rather than a fixed limit. Aeroflot has already begun operations from Russia, with the first flight bringing 162 passengers, while SCAT Airlines is scheduled to add Kazakhstan services.

The wider impact will extend beyond the airport. Hotels, transport operators, restaurants, tour companies and retail businesses can all benefit from the additional international visitors expected during the season.

The competition and division of traffic between Dabolim and Mopa remains a separate issue. The available evidence supports continued operations at both airports rather than describing the Dabolim charter programme as exclusively a South Goa protection strategy.

Who Is This For: Hotels, resorts, transport operators, travel agencies, tour operators, restaurants and businesses serving international tourists in Goa.

Courtesy: Press Information Bureau / Ministry of Civil Aviation