In 2024, Asia continues to lead the world’s busiest airline routes, with seven of the top 10 international flights within the Asia-Pacific region. This surge in travel marks the region’s long-awaited recovery. According to an annual report from aviation data provider OAG, the busiest route is once again Hong Kong-Taipei, with 6.8 million seats. This is followed by Cairo-Jeddah, which has seen a significant 62% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. The New York JFK-London Heathrow route remains the only transatlantic entry in the top 10.
The OAG report analyzed scheduled airline seat volumes from January to December 2024, focusing on round-trip flights. The rankings highlight the resurgence of leisure travel, with destinations like Hong Kong, Seoul, and Singapore being major hubs in the region.
Top 10 Busiest International Flight Routes of 2024:
- Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE): 6.8 million seats
- Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED): 5.47 million seats
- Seoul (ICN) to Tokyo Narita (NRT): 5.4 million seats
- Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore (SIN): 5.38 million seats
- Seoul (ICN) to Osaka (KIX): 4.98 million seats
- Dubai (DXB) to Riyadh (RUH): 4.3 million seats
- Bangkok (BKK) to Hong Kong (HKG): 4.2 million seats
- Jakarta (CGK) to Singapore (SIN): 4.07 million seats
- Bangkok (BKK) to Singapore (SIN): 4.03 million seats
- New York JFK (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR): 4.01 million seats
OAG’s chief analyst, John Grant, noted that the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, is experiencing significant growth, driven by both leisure and business demand, particularly due to the Vision 2030 initiative. While business hubs like Dubai and Riyadh have high volumes, the Cairo-Jeddah route demonstrates the dominance of leisure travel in these regions.
This year’s busiest routes indicate a significant shift towards regional travel within Asia and the Middle East, with leisure and tourism driving much of the demand. The resurgence of travel to Asia has marked the region’s recovery from the pandemic, continuing into 2024.
