Asia Dominates the World’s Busiest Air Routes in 2025
January 13, 2026
Asia-Pacific has once again confirmed its position as the global aviation powerhouse, accounting for the vast majority of the world’s busiest air routes in 2025, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data. From ultra-dense domestic corridors to high-frequency international links, airlines across Asia continue to drive global air travel demand.
Hong Kong–Taipei Remains the World’s Busiest International Air Route
For the second consecutive year, the Hong Kong–Taipei (HKG–TPE) route ranked as the busiest international air route in the world.
Total capacity (2025): 6.83 million two-way seats- Year-on-year growth: +1.7%
- 2019 peak comparison: Still below the pre-pandemic high of 7.97 million seats
Seven airlines currently operate the 500-mile sector, led by:
- Cathay Pacific Airways – 39% market share
- EVA Air – 20.9%
- China Airlines – 13.1%
Despite geopolitical sensitivities in the region, demand between Hong Kong and Taiwan remains resilient, supported by strong business, leisure, and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic.
Asia-Pacific Controls 7 of the World’s Top 10 International Routes
The Asia-Pacific region accounted for seven of the world’s 10 busiest international air routes in 2025, underlining its dominance in short-haul cross-border travel.
Top International Routes Highlights:
- Cairo–Jeddah ranked second globally with 5.7 million seats, reflecting strong religious pilgrimage and labor traffic between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
- Kuala Lumpur–Singapore Changi climbed to third place, growing 4.2% year-on-year.
- Seoul Incheon–Tokyo Narita slipped to fourth after a 6.5% capacity decline, while Seoul–Osaka Kansaicompleted the top five.
The only non–Asia-Pacific or Middle East route in the international top 10 was New York JFK–London Heathrow, ranking 10th for the second straight year with 3.97 million seats.
Busiest International Air Routes in the World – 2025 (By Capacity)
| Rank | Route | Airport Pair | Seats |
| 1 | Hong Kong – Taipei | HKG–TPE | 6.83M |
| 2 | Cairo – Jeddah | CAI–JED | 5.70M |
| 3 | Kuala Lumpur – Singapore | KUL–SIN | 5.55M |
| 4 | Seoul Incheon – Tokyo Narita | ICN–NRT | 5.08M |
| 5 | Seoul Incheon – Osaka Kansai | ICN–KIX | 4.97M |
| 6 | Jakarta – Singapore | CGK–SIN | 4.60M |
| 7 | Dubai – Riyadh | DXB–RUH | 4.49M |
| 8 | Bangkok – Hong Kong | BKK–HKG | 4.12M |
| 9 | Tokyo Narita – Taipei | NRT–TPE | 4.03M |
| 10 | New York JFK – London Heathrow | JFK–LHR | 3.97M |
Domestic Routes Dominate Global Air Travel in 2025
While international routes saw strong growth, the busiest air routes globally were all domestic, led once again by South Korea.
Seoul Gimpo–Jeju: The World’s Busiest Air Route
- Seats offered: 14.65 million
- Year-on-year growth: +3.8%
- Daily frequency: ~97 return flights
Seven airlines serve the route, with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines controlling 51% of total capacity.
Japan Leads Domestic Aviation Rankings
Japan claimed three of the top 10 busiest domestic routes worldwide, reflecting the country’s high-frequency, rail-competitive aviation model:
- Sapporo New Chitose–Tokyo Haneda – 12.1 million seats
- Fukuoka–Tokyo Haneda – 11.5 million seats
- Tokyo Haneda–Okinawa Naha – 8.05 million seats
Vietnam’s Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City ranked fourth globally, while Jeddah–Riyadh surged to fifth after adding over 1.15 million seats year-on-year, the largest absolute increase worldwide.
Overall Busiest Air Routes in the World – 2025 (By Capacity)
| Rank | Route | Seats |
| 1 | Jeju – Seoul Gimpo | 14.65M |
| 2 | Sapporo – Tokyo Haneda | 12.13M |
| 3 | Fukuoka – Tokyo Haneda | 11.50M |
| 4 | Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City | 11.16M |
| 5 | Jeddah – Riyadh | 9.91M |
| 6 | Melbourne – Sydney | 8.93M |
| 7 | Tokyo Haneda – Okinawa | 8.05M |
| 8 | Mumbai – Delhi | 7.54M |
| 9 | Beijing – Shanghai Hongqiao | 7.40M |
| 10 | Shanghai Hongqiao – Shenzhen | 7.13M |
Key Aviation Trends from 2025
- Asia-Pacific remains the global aviation growth engine
- Short-haul international routes outperform long-haul markets
- Domestic air travel continues to recover faster than international travel
- Middle East routes benefit from labor mobility and religious travel
- Capacity still trails pre-pandemic highs on many major routes
Final Takeaway
The 2025 rankings clearly show that Asia dominates global air traffic, both internationally and domestically. With dense populations, short travel distances, and expanding middle-class demand, the region is likely to retain its leadership in global aviation for years to come.
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