According to aviation intelligence firm OAG, the Hong Kong-Taipei route has reclaimed its position as the busiest international flight route in 2024, a title it last held in 2019. Despite ongoing recovery in the aviation sector, seat capacity for this route remains 15% below pre-pandemic levels.
Top 10 Busiest Routes
- Hong Kong - Taipei: With 6.78 million seats, this route leads globally as the most heavily trafficked international flight route.
- Cairo - Jeddah: A vital corridor in the Middle East, this route facilitates travel between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, with 5.47 million seats.
- Seoul Incheon - Tokyo Narita: Connecting two major East Asian hubs, this route recorded 5.41 million seats.
- Kuala Lumpur - Singapore: Southeast Asia's short-haul favorite, this route offered 5.38 million seats.
- Seoul Incheon - Osaka: Another popular East Asian connection with 4.98 million seats.
- Dubai - Riyadh: Serving business and tourism travel in the Middle East, this route had 4.31 million seats.
- Bangkok - Hong Kong: A key connection in Asia-Pacific, this route offered 4.20 million seats.
- Jakarta - Singapore: Connecting two major ASEAN cities, this route recorded 4.07 million seats.
- Bangkok - Singapore: Another high-traffic Southeast Asian route with 4.03 million seats.
- New York JFK - London Heathrow: The only non-Asia-Pacific route in the top ten, this transatlantic connection had 4.01 million seats.
Asia-Pacific Dominates the Rankings
Seven of the ten busiest international routes are located in the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting the region's importance in global air travel. While these routes continue to recover, many remain below their 2019 capacity levels. The dominance of Asia-Pacific routes underscores the region's role as a critical driver of international air travel demand, supported by strong business and tourism connections.
Global Aviation Recovery
These rankings reflect the uneven recovery of international aviation. While demand for travel has rebounded significantly in many regions, challenges such as fluctuating demand, geopolitical factors, and operational constraints continue to influence seat capacity. The return of high-traffic routes like Hong Kong-Taipei to the top highlights a positive trend, but full recovery to pre-pandemic levels remains a work in progress.
