Following a turbulent few years from a global pandemic to regional tensions, the aviation sector remains a cornerstone of modern global connectivity and economic development. While the sector still faces headwinds, it has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the last few years, overcoming several challenges.
In its latest outlook report, PWC revealed that the commercial aerospace sector is a $1.5 trillion industry that includes airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, supply chain component manufacturers, aircraft maintenance facilities, airports and infrastructure providers. In 2025, the industry is poised to benefit from a robust global economy, low oil prices, further modest reductions in interest rates and inflation and the completion of post-COVID traffic recovery in Asia.
Passenger traffic has remained strong in 2024. For 2025, IATA expects traffic to continue to grow but at a slightly slower pace as all regions surpass pre-pandemic levels. Over the next two decades, the number of global passengers is projected to increase at an average annual rate of 3.8 percent, leading to a net addition of over 4.1 billion passenger journeys by 2043 compared to 2023. This would bring the total global number of passenger journeys to 7.9 billion in 2043.
Top 10 busiest international flight routes in 2024
With that being said, several flight routes stood out last year for their remarkable performance and swift recovery. The majority of routes in the top 10 busiest international routes for 2024 were in Asia, seven routes in total. From other regions, one route was from Africa, one from Europe and North America and two within the Middle East.
1. Hong Kong – Taipei (HKG-TPE)
The latest report from OAG reveals that the busiest international flight route in 2024 was Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE) with 6.8 million seats. In 2023, the route ranked as the third busiest route, although it held the top spot in 2019. The capacity on this route grew by 48 percent compared to the previous year, yet remained 15 percent lower than the levels seen in 2019.
All routes across Asia Pacific saw significant growth in 2024 as the region continues the post-pandemic recovery, with the HKG – TPE route showing the most substantial increase.
2. Cairo – Jeddah (CAI-JED)
Taking second place in the top 10 busiest international flight routes in 2024 was Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED) with 5.5 million seats. The airline capacity on this route grew 14 percent above 2023 levels and 62 percent above 2019 levels, maintaining its second position which it achieved in 2023.
3. Seoul Incheon – Tokyo Narita (ICN-NRT)
In third place came Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) with 5.4 million seats, only 58,818 seats behind Cairo-Jeddah. Capacity on this route increased by 30 percent compared to 2023 levels and by 68 percent compared to 2019 levels, propelling the route from 16th place in 2019 to 3rd busiest international flight route in the world.
4. Kuala Lumpur – Singapore Changi (KUL-SIN)
Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore Changi (SIN) was the busiest international airline route in 2023. It ranked fourth in 2024 with 5.4 million seats, just 28,293 behind third place. This route was above 2023 levels by 10 percent and just below 2019 levels by 3 percent.
5. Seoul Incheon – Osaka Kansai (ICN-KIX)
In fifth place came Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Osaka Kansai (KIX) with 4,982,769. The route saw an 18 percent increase in capacity last year and a 45 percent compared to 2019 when it ranked 12th globally.
6. Dubai – Riyadh (DXB-RUH)
In sixth place came Dubai (DXB) to Riyadh (RUH) with a seat capacity of 4,306,599. This route was above 2023 levels by 8 percent and above 2019 levels by a remarkable 37 percent percent. The route has maintained its position as the 6th busiest international airline route since 2023.
7. Bangkok – Hong Kong (BKK-HKG)
Bangkok (BKK) to Hong Kong (HKG) moved up into the top 10 busiest international routes in 2024 in seventh place with 4.2 million seats, a capacity increase of 29 percent compared to 2023 but still 13 percent behind 2019.
8. Jakarta – Singapore Changi (CGK-SIN)
Ranking eighth globally, Jakarta (CGK) to Singapore Changi (SIN) reached a seating capacity of 4,069,071 last year. The route’s capacity rose 4 percent from 2023 but declined 26 percent compared to 2019 when it ranked 3rd globally.
9. Bangkok – Singapore Changi (BKK-SIN)
In ninth place came Bangkok (BKK) to Singapore Changi (SIN) with a seat capacity of 4,033,344. The route saw a notable expansion of 16 percent in capacity compared to 2023 and a 5 percent expansion compared to 2019, maintaining its 9th place since then.
10. New York JFK – London Heathrow (JFK-LHR)
New York JFK to London Heathrow (LHR) ranked the tenth busiest international route in 2024 with a seat capacity of 4,011,235. The route saw its capacity rise 3 percent from 2023 and 5 percent from 2019.
Read: DXB remains world’s busiest international airport with 60.2 million seats in 2024
What were the 10 busiest domestic airline routes in 2024?
Eight of the top 10 busiest domestic routes were in Asia, including key trunk routes in South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, India and China. In 2024, Jeju (CJU) to Seoul (GMP)remained the busiest domestic route in the world with 14.18 million seats, equivalent to almost 39,000 daily seats. Capacity on the route was 3 percent above 2023 levels but still 19 percent behind 2019.
Meanwhile, the route that recorded the most growth in the top 10 was Jeddah (JED) to Riyadh (RUH) which saw capacity increase in 2024 by 10 percent compared to 2023 and 9 percent compared to 2019.
