Top nations with highest flight activity in 2024, destinations, and aircraft types unveiled in aviation statistics
Top 10 Busiest Flight Routes of 2024 Revealed
According to the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) 2024 World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) report, the world's busiest flight routes are dominated by Asian destinations, with the exception of a single route in Saudi Arabia.
The most travelled route is the Jeju–Seoul (CJU–GMP) connection in South Korea, with a staggering 13.2 million passengers in 2024. This is followed by several domestic Japanese routes, such as Sapporo to Tokyo Haneda (CTS–HND) and Fukuoka to Tokyo Haneda (FUK–HND).
Vietnam's Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (HAN–SGN) route also features in the top 10, as does the Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing Capital (SHA–PEK) connection in China. The Indonesian route of Jakarta to Denpasar Bali (CGK–DPS) also makes the list.
Interestingly, the only non-Asia Pacific route in the top 10 is Jeddah to Riyadh (JED–RUH) in Saudi Arabia.
These figures are based on aggregated data from over 240 airlines worldwide and reflect total passenger volumes for 2024. Asia Pacific airports dominate global air traffic, especially domestic connections within large populous countries. The Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families continue to be the most used aircraft on these routes.
In Europe, the most popular route is the flight between Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, with 2 million passengers in 2024. The busiest route in North America is JFK to LAX, with 2.2 million passengers, while in Latin America, the route between Bogota and Medellín leads with 3.8 million passengers.
The United Kingdom is the world's third biggest aviation market in 2024, with 261 million passengers. The United States, with 876 million passengers per year, remains the world's biggest aviation market, primarily due to its domestic travel.
Nine out of 10 of the world's busiest flight routes are in the Asia-Pacific region. However, it's worth noting that the global aviation landscape is constantly evolving, and these figures may change in the coming years.
The report from the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) 2024 World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) reveals that the Jeddah to Riyadh (JED–RUH) route in Saudi Arabia is the only non-Asia Pacific route among the top 10 busiest flight routes in 2024. Additionally, the Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (HAN–SGN) route in Vietnam also features in the top 10, showcasing the dominance of Asian destinations in global travel.
