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10. New York JFK-London Heathrow
- Over the course of 2024, the 10th busiest international airline route was that serving New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and London Heathrow.
© Getty Images
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10. New York JFK-London Heathrow
- Ranked by seats, 4,011,235 passengers flew between JFK and LHR.
© Getty Images
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10. New York City and London
- In 2024, upwards of 65 million visitors came to New York City—the second-highest figure in city history and a 3.5% increase from the previous year. Around 30 million people choose to visit London every year. In fact, the UK's capital city remains one of the world's favorite destinations, especially for tourists from the United States and Europe (and, increasingly, Asia).
© Shutterstock
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9. Bangkok-Singapore
- The ninth busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport.
© Getty Images
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9. Bangkok-Singapore
- Ranked by seats, 4,033,344 passengers flew between BKK and SIN.
© Getty Images
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9. Bangkok and Singapore
- In 2024, Bangkok welcomed a record number of 32.4 million visitors. Meanwhile, international visitor arrivals to Singapore numbered in excess of 15 million.
© Shutterstock
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8. Jakarta-Singapore
- The eighth busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Jakarta's Soekarno–Hatta International Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport.
© Getty Images
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8. Jakarta-Singapore
- Ranked by seats, 4,069,071 passengers flew between CGK and SIN.
© Getty Images
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8. Jakarta and Singapore
- In 2023, international tourist arrivals in Indonesia surged 98.30% to 11.68 million. By August 2024, nearly 9.1 million foreigners had visited the country. Year-end forecasts predict a 14.3 million footfall. Those visiting from Singapore represent 18.42% of international arrivals.
© iStock
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7. Bangkok-Hong Kong
- The seventh busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport.
© Getty Images
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7. Bangkok-Hong Kong
- Ranked by seats, 4,201,802 passengers flew between BKK and HKG.
© Getty Images
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7. Bangkok and Hong Kong
- Hong Kong recorded nearly 32.6 million visitor arrivals in the first three quarters of 2024. In October alone, four million tourists explored this special administrative region of China.
© Shutterstock
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6. Dubai-Riyadh
- The sixth busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Dubai International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
© Getty Images
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6. Dubai-Riyadh
- Ranked by seats, 4,306,599 passengers flew between DXB and RUH.
© Getty Images
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6. Dubai and Riyadh
- Dubai welcomed 9.31 million international overnight visitors from January to June 2024. In December 2024, the Saudi General Entertainment Authority announced that visitor numbers had reached 13 million—"a new milestone."
© Shutterstock
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5. Seoul-Osaka
- The fifth busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving South Korea's Incheon International Airport in Seoul and Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan.
© Getty Images
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5. Seoul-Osaka
- Ranked by seats, 4,982,769 passengers flew between ICN and KIX.
© Getty Images
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5. Seoul and Osaka - On average, a little over 11 million international tourists visit South Korea every year. In October 2024 alone, South Korea visitor arrivals recorded 1,596,830 persons. Between July 2023 and June 2024, Japan attracted 31 million tourists, making it the best-performing market in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of visitor arrivals, according to the Central European Institute of Asian Studies.
© iStock
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4. Kuala Lumpur-Singapore
- The fourth busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport.
© Getty Images
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4. Kuala Lumpur-Singapore
- Ranked by seats, 5,382,163 passengers flew between KUL and SIN.
© Getty Images
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4. Kuala Lumpur and Singapore - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital city, welcomed 17.5 million tourists in 2024, a remarkable 73% increase from 2023.
© iStock
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3. Seoul-Tokyo Narita
- The third busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Incheon International Airport in Seoul and Tokyo's Narita International Airport.
© Getty Images
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3. Seoul-Tokyo Narita
- Ranked by seats, 5,410,456 passengers flew between ICN and NRT.
© NL Beeld
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3. Seoul and Tokyo
- In 2023, 19.8 million international tourists set about discovering Tokyo. Estimated figures for 2024 are set to record numbers beyond 20 million.
© Getty Images
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2. Cairo-Jeddah
- The second busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Cairo International Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
© Getty Images
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2. Cairo-Jeddah
- Ranked by seats, 5,469,274 passengers flew between CAI and JED.
© Getty Images
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2. Cairo and Jeddah
- By November 2024, a record-breaking 17 million tourists had arrived in Egypt. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, saw an impressive 656% surge in leisure tourism in 2024. In fact, airline capacity on the CAI-JED route is 14% above 2023 levels and 62% higher than 2019.
© Getty Images
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1. Hong Kong-Taipei
- The busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei and Hong Kong International Airport.
© Getty Images
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1. Hong Kong-Taipei
- Ranked by seats, 6,781,577 passengers flew between HKG and TPE.
© NL Beeld
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1. Hong Kong and Taipei
- In 2023, HKG-TPE was ranked as the third busiest route, although it held the top spot in 2019. The capacity on this route has grown by 48% compared to 2023, to once again achieve the number one accolade. According to Focus Taiwan, the number of foreign visitors to Taiwan in 2024 hit the seven million milestone in December. Sources: (OAG) (The Business Times) (Central European Institute of Asian Studies) (Focus Taiwan) See also: Flying in the winter? Here’s what you need to know
© Getty Images
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© Getty Images
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10. New York JFK-London Heathrow
- Over the course of 2024, the 10th busiest international airline route was that serving New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and London Heathrow.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
10. New York JFK-London Heathrow
- Ranked by seats, 4,011,235 passengers flew between JFK and LHR.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
10. New York City and London
- In 2024, upwards of 65 million visitors came to New York City—the second-highest figure in city history and a 3.5% increase from the previous year. Around 30 million people choose to visit London every year. In fact, the UK's capital city remains one of the world's favorite destinations, especially for tourists from the United States and Europe (and, increasingly, Asia).
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
9. Bangkok-Singapore
- The ninth busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
9. Bangkok-Singapore
- Ranked by seats, 4,033,344 passengers flew between BKK and SIN.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
9. Bangkok and Singapore
- In 2024, Bangkok welcomed a record number of 32.4 million visitors. Meanwhile, international visitor arrivals to Singapore numbered in excess of 15 million.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
8. Jakarta-Singapore
- The eighth busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Jakarta's Soekarno–Hatta International Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
8. Jakarta-Singapore
- Ranked by seats, 4,069,071 passengers flew between CGK and SIN.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
8. Jakarta and Singapore
- In 2023, international tourist arrivals in Indonesia surged 98.30% to 11.68 million. By August 2024, nearly 9.1 million foreigners had visited the country. Year-end forecasts predict a 14.3 million footfall. Those visiting from Singapore represent 18.42% of international arrivals.
© iStock
9 / 31 Fotos
7. Bangkok-Hong Kong
- The seventh busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
7. Bangkok-Hong Kong
- Ranked by seats, 4,201,802 passengers flew between BKK and HKG.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
7. Bangkok and Hong Kong
- Hong Kong recorded nearly 32.6 million visitor arrivals in the first three quarters of 2024. In October alone, four million tourists explored this special administrative region of China.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
6. Dubai-Riyadh
- The sixth busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Dubai International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
6. Dubai-Riyadh
- Ranked by seats, 4,306,599 passengers flew between DXB and RUH.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
6. Dubai and Riyadh
- Dubai welcomed 9.31 million international overnight visitors from January to June 2024. In December 2024, the Saudi General Entertainment Authority announced that visitor numbers had reached 13 million—"a new milestone."
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
5. Seoul-Osaka
- The fifth busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving South Korea's Incheon International Airport in Seoul and Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
5. Seoul-Osaka
- Ranked by seats, 4,982,769 passengers flew between ICN and KIX.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
5. Seoul and Osaka - On average, a little over 11 million international tourists visit South Korea every year. In October 2024 alone, South Korea visitor arrivals recorded 1,596,830 persons. Between July 2023 and June 2024, Japan attracted 31 million tourists, making it the best-performing market in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of visitor arrivals, according to the Central European Institute of Asian Studies.
© iStock
18 / 31 Fotos
4. Kuala Lumpur-Singapore
- The fourth busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Singapore's Changi Airport.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
4. Kuala Lumpur-Singapore
- Ranked by seats, 5,382,163 passengers flew between KUL and SIN.
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
4. Kuala Lumpur and Singapore - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital city, welcomed 17.5 million tourists in 2024, a remarkable 73% increase from 2023.
© iStock
21 / 31 Fotos
3. Seoul-Tokyo Narita
- The third busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Incheon International Airport in Seoul and Tokyo's Narita International Airport.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
3. Seoul-Tokyo Narita
- Ranked by seats, 5,410,456 passengers flew between ICN and NRT.
© NL Beeld
23 / 31 Fotos
3. Seoul and Tokyo
- In 2023, 19.8 million international tourists set about discovering Tokyo. Estimated figures for 2024 are set to record numbers beyond 20 million.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
2. Cairo-Jeddah
- The second busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Cairo International Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
2. Cairo-Jeddah
- Ranked by seats, 5,469,274 passengers flew between CAI and JED.
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
2. Cairo and Jeddah
- By November 2024, a record-breaking 17 million tourists had arrived in Egypt. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, saw an impressive 656% surge in leisure tourism in 2024. In fact, airline capacity on the CAI-JED route is 14% above 2023 levels and 62% higher than 2019.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
1. Hong Kong-Taipei
- The busiest international airline route in 2024 was that serving Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei and Hong Kong International Airport.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
1. Hong Kong-Taipei
- Ranked by seats, 6,781,577 passengers flew between HKG and TPE.
© NL Beeld
29 / 31 Fotos
1. Hong Kong and Taipei
- In 2023, HKG-TPE was ranked as the third busiest route, although it held the top spot in 2019. The capacity on this route has grown by 48% compared to 2023, to once again achieve the number one accolade. According to Focus Taiwan, the number of foreign visitors to Taiwan in 2024 hit the seven million milestone in December. Sources: (OAG) (The Business Times) (Central European Institute of Asian Studies) (Focus Taiwan) See also: Flying in the winter? Here’s what you need to know
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
The busiest international flight routes in the world, ranked
Classified by seats occupied, these international flight routes were the busiest in 2024
© Getty Images
Many of us booked a flight somewhere in 2024, likely to go on vacation or for business purposes. But depending on the destination, the plane was probably packed—with seating at a premium. In fact, on some international flights seats require a reservation months in advance of the departure date, such is the popularity of the route. But just how busy are these routings?
The Official Aviation Guide of the Airways (OAG), a UK-based global travel data provider, has just published its annual Top 10 list of the world's busiest flight routes. The list includes routes in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. But what flight path is above all others?
Click through this gallery, ranked by seats in descending order, to find out.
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