Goa’s international charter flights are seeing slower early bookings for the 2026–27 winter season as unusually warm weather in Europe, Kazakhstan and other source markets delays travellers’ decisions, according to tour operators. The shift is prompting airlines, hotels and travel companies to use lower fares and early-season packages to attract visitors to the state.
The charter season began on October 1, when an Aeroflot flight from Yekaterinburg landed at Dabolim with 162 passengers. A Moscow charter followed with more than 285 passengers. Russian charter flights are currently operating five times a week and are expected to increase to nine each week, according to the report.
Operators said many travellers from Russia and Kazakhstan, two of Goa’s established winter tourism markets, are booking only four or five days before departure. Abida Kumar, executive director of Caper Travels, attributed the slower booking pace to warmer-than-usual conditions in the source markets.
“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,” Kumar said. “The footfall for flight bookings is very slow, with many foreigners waiting till the last minute to book.”
The delayed bookings have not necessarily reduced expectations for the full season, with operators saying travellers may postpone trips rather than cancel them. However, the change in booking behaviour is affecting how airlines and hotels plan capacity, pricing and early-season promotions.
Kazakhstan’s first charter of the season is scheduled for October 26, carrying 177 passengers from Almaty to Manohar International Airport. A second Kazakhstan service is scheduled from Nur Sultan to Goa International Airport with 189 passengers. Additional Kazakhstan flights are expected to be added in December as operators respond to weaker demand in October and November.
The weather pattern is also affecting competition between destinations. In parts of Europe, unusually warm October conditions linked in the report to a late-season heat dome pushed temperatures 8°C to 12°C above seasonal averages in several western and southern regions. Conditions varied across the continent, with cooler areas and incoming cold fronts also reported. Kazakhstan’s average temperatures across most regions were 1°C to 2°C above historical climatic norms after what was described as the country’s hottest summer on record.
Travel operators said competing destinations are using the conditions to attract the same visitors. China and Vietnam are offering better deals, according to one operator focused on Europe and Russia. Goa-based operators are responding with lower flight prices, reduced hotel tariffs and packages for the first charter arrivals through November.
“Operators are dropping flight prices, and even hotels in Goa are dropping tariffs to make it attractive,” Kumar said. Hotels are offering packages aimed at encouraging visitors to travel earlier and helping Goa compete with other winter destinations.
The early season is expected to remain particularly sensitive to weather-related booking decisions, while the next increase in Kazakhstan services is planned for December. Russian operations are also expected to expand to nine weekly flights.
