Asia Pacific dominated global air travel in 2024, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul (CJU–GMP) corridor ranked the world’s busiest route, carrying 13.2 million passengers last year, as per the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) report.
Out of the top 10 busiest airport pairs worldwide, nine were within the Asia Pacific region. Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah–Riyadh (JED–RUH) was the only route outside Asia Pacific to make it to the global top 10.
IATA’s WATS report, based on data from over 240 airlines, provides detailed information on global air traffic trends, including passenger volumes, cargo capacity, aircraft utilisation, airline staffing, and financial performance.
- Jeju – Seoul (CJU–GMP), South Korea – 13.2 million passengers
- Sapporo – Tokyo Haneda (CTS–HND), Japan
- Fukuoka – Tokyo Haneda (FUK–HND), Japan
- Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City (HAN–SGN), Vietnam
- Shanghai Hongqiao – Beijing Capital (SHA–PEK), China
- Jakarta – Denpasar Bali (CGK–DPS), Indonesia
- Osaka – Tokyo Haneda (ITM–HND), Japan
- Manila – Cebu (MNL–CEB), Philippines
- Jeddah – Riyadh (JED–RUH), Saudi Arabia
- Bangkok – Chiang Mai (BKK–CNX), Thailand
Regional Leaders in Air Traffic
- Latin America: Bogotá–Medellín (BOG–MDE) topped with 3.8 million passengers
- Africa: Cape Town–Johannesburg (CPT–JNB) led with 3.3 million flyers
- North America: New York JFK–Los Angeles (JFK–LAX) was highest with 2.2 million passengers
- Europe: Barcelona–Palma de Mallorca (BCN–PMI) carried 2 million passengers
The WATS report also includes data on cargo traffic, operating costs, airline profitability, and employee numbers. IATA noted that this annual statistical review helps stakeholders track changes in demand and capacity planning across global air routes.
For Indian travellers and airlines, the dominance of intra-Asia Pacific routes signals sustained demand for regional connectivity, which may guide network planning and route development in the coming years.
