Goa’s international charter season has begun with operators reporting delayed bookings from Russia, Kazakhstan and parts of Europe, as unusually warm weather in those markets reduces the urgency to travel for winter sun. Tour operators are responding with lower airfares and hotel packages while airlines plan to expand flights later in the season.
The 2026–27 charter season opened on October 1, when an Aeroflot flight from Yekaterinburg landed at Dabolim with 162 passengers. A subsequent Moscow charter carried more than 285 passengers. Russian charter flights are currently operating five times a week and are expected to increase to nine flights a week, according to the report.
Operators said the slower start does not necessarily indicate a fall in total demand. Instead, travellers who would normally book earlier may be postponing decisions until temperatures drop in their home countries. Russian and Kazakh visitors are among Goa’s most dependable winter tourist groups, making the timing of their bookings important for airlines, hotels, travel agencies and airport-linked businesses.
“Because of El Nino, it is not very cold in their country. It is warm and pleasant. When it starts snowing, people start moving out and travelling,” Abida Kumar, executive director of Caper Travels, was quoted as saying. She added that flight-booking footfall was slow, with many foreign visitors waiting until the last minute. Some tourists are booking only four or five days before departure.
Kazakhstan’s first charter of the season is scheduled to arrive on October 26, carrying 177 passengers from Almaty to Manohar International Airport. A second Kazakhstan flight from Nur Sultan is expected to arrive at Goa International Airport with 189 passengers. Operators said additional Kazakhstan flights would be added in December because of reluctance among travellers to fly during October and November.
The booking slowdown is also affecting pricing across Goa’s tourism infrastructure. Operators are reducing flight prices, while hotels are lowering tariffs and offering packages linked to the first charter flights through November. The measures are intended to attract visitors earlier and keep Goa competitive with other destinations.
A tour operator focused on Europe and Russia said China and Vietnam were using the warm weather to offer more attractive deals. The operator also said October had been a slow start for several years as warmer conditions continued for longer in Europe.
The report cited unusually warm October conditions in parts of western and southern Europe, where temperatures were 8°C to 12°C above seasonal averages in several areas. Conditions varied by region, with cooler pockets and incoming cold fronts also reported. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, recorded average temperatures 1°C to 2°C above its historical climatic norm across most regions after what was described as the hottest summer in the country’s history.
For Goa, the immediate operational question is whether late booking behaviour will shift the timing of arrivals rather than reduce the overall winter charter flow. Airlines, hotels and tour operators are now adjusting capacity, fares and packages around that uncertainty, with more Kazakhstan flights expected in December.
