The Asia-Pacific region is on the brink of a full aviation recovery, with seven of the world’s ten busiest international flight routes in 2024 linking destinations within this region, according to a report released on December 17 by aviation data provider OAG.
In its analysis of scheduled airline seat capacity for the year, OAG found that two routes connecting Middle Eastern cities also made the list, while one of the busiest routes bucked the trend by serving predominantly leisure travelers, highlighting the continued dominance of tourism over business travel four years after the global pandemic disrupted air traffic. The findings were first reported by Yahoo News.
John Grant, OAG’s chief analyst, stated, “The Asia Pacific region is very close to a full recovery, with major flight routes centered around established travel hubs such as Hong Kong, Seoul Incheon, and Singapore.”
Asia-Pacific’s Dominance
The Hong Kong to Taipei route claimed the top spot as the world’s busiest international route in 2024, a position it previously held in 2019, with 6.8 million seats available. This surge in travel signifies a significant rebound, particularly in the Taiwan-Hong Kong corridor. Following closely behind was the Cairo to Jeddah route, which saw a 62% increase in capacity compared to 2019, underlining the rapid growth in Middle Eastern travel, particularly between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The Seoul to Tokyo Narita route ranked third with 5.4 million scheduled seats, reflecting a 69% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Other notable routes include the Kuala Lumpur to Singapore flight, which garnered 5.38 million seats, and the Incheon to Osaka route, which saw 4.98 million scheduled seats.
Middle Eastern Surge
OAG’s analysis also highlighted the expanding air travel markets in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, which is seeing increased business and leisure activity due to its Vision 2030 project. Despite the rise in corporate routes between cities like Riyadh and Dubai, the highest flight volumes were recorded on leisure-driven routes, such as the Jeddah to Cairo route, a popular destination for vacationers.
“While business travel between hubs like Dubai and Riyadh continues to thrive, the leisure market has dominated in some of the busiest international routes,” said Grant.
The Sole Transatlantic Entry
Notably, the New York JFK to London Heathrow route was the only transatlantic flight to make the top 10, maintaining its relevance in global aviation with 4 million scheduled seats. This represents a modest 5% increase from 2019 levels, solidifying its place as a key route between Europe and North America despite the shift towards intra-Asia travel.
Top 10 Busiest International Routes in 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
In summary, Asia-Pacific’s robust recovery continues to shape global air travel patterns, with leisure tourism driving much of the traffic. Meanwhile, the Middle East’s growing influence is evident, especially as Saudi Arabia’s tourism initiatives gain momentum. The dominance of Asia-Pacific routes signals a broader trend of regional connectivity that could define air travel for the years to come.
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