Top 10 busiest flight routes of 2024
The skies have been getting busier, especially if you reside in Hong Kong or Taipei. According to the latest data from travel intelligence company OAG, the route between these two cities has emerged as the world’s busiest international flight route for 2024, with a staggering 6,781,577 seats on sale.
This surge in seat availability marks a return to pre-pandemic levels of popularity for the HKG-TPE route, which also claimed the top spot in 2019. Last year, the route ranked third but has now regained its position at the top of the leaderboard.
In comparison, the previous year’s busiest international route was between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, with a significantly lower 4.9 million seats. The Cairo-Jeddah route secured the second spot on the 2024 list, with nearly 5.5 million seats sold. This route has experienced rapid growth over the past five years, climbing from 14th place in 2019 to second place in 2023 and 2024.
Asian cities dominated the top spots in the global rankings, with Seoul featuring prominently with routes to Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai ranking third and fourth, respectively. Singapore Changi airport also made a strong showing, with routes to Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Bangkok securing spots in the top 10.
In terms of domestic routes, Asia once again led the pack, with the Jeju International-Seoul Gimpo route retaining its title as the world’s busiest domestic route. The top three domestic routes globally were all in Asia, with Jeju-Seoul offering a staggering 14.2 million seats, equating to nearly 39,000 seats per day.
Analyzing routes by region, Cairo emerged as Africa’s hub, while London Heathrow dominated European routes. Latin America’s top route was between San Juan and Orlando, while Jeddah-Cairo and Dubai-Riyadh topped the Middle East routes. Jeddah to Riyadh experienced the fastest growth among the top 10 routes, with a 10% increase in capacity year on year.
While the growth in air travel is good news for the industry, it also raises concerns about its environmental impact. Aviation accounted for 2.1% of manmade carbon emissions worldwide in 2022, contributing to 3.5% of total planet-warming emissions. Experts warn that the expanding industry could become a significant contributor to climate change if not addressed promptly.
As we look to the future, it is essential to consider the environmental implications of the growing aviation sector and work towards more sustainable travel practices. The world’s busiest flight routes for 2024 highlight the increasing demand for air travel and the need for responsible environmental stewardship in the industry.
