In Pictures: Top 10 Busiest Domestic Flight Routes of 2024

It comes as a surprise that many airports that feature in this list of the busiest domestic flight routes of 2024 don’t quite make it to the cut of the busiest European Airport for 2024 or the busiest international airports for 2024. Most airports in this list are from nations in Asia, particularly the far east.

10. Guangzhou Baiyun-Shanghai Hongqiao

*Aerial view Guangzhou International Airport taken from the drone.*
Photo:Windmemories |Wikimedia Commons

Route	Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN)- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport(SHA)
Seats	7,010,321
Rank in 2023	11

*Airbus A320 of spring airlines which is among one of the airlines that provides non -stop service on this route*
*Photo:*Aeroprints.com|Wikimedia Commons

The airlines offering non-stop flights between CAN and SHA are China Eastern, Juneyao Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Shanghai Airlines. *

Distance	730 miles
2019 rank	13
2024 vs 2019	10%

*Shenzen Airlines aircraft at Shanghai Hongqiao Airpor. However, this carrier doesn’t operate non-stop flights on the CAN-SHA route.*
Photo: Timothytyy|Wikimedia Commons

The flight from the Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport takes somewhere in between 2 hours five minutes and two hours 20 minutes, There are around 57 daily flights from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN).

9.Beijing – Shanghai Hongqiao

*BOEING 737-800 airport operated by Air China at Beijing airport*
Photo: calflier001|Wikimedia commons

Route	Beijing airport (PEK)-Shanghai Hongqiao airport (SHA)
Seats	7,714,758
Ranks in 2023	6

According to flightconnection.com, the airlines that offer non-stop flights from PEK to SHA are

China Eastern
Hainan Airlines.

*China Eastern operates an Airbus A330-200 on the PEK-SHA route.*
*Photo: そらみみ | Wikimedia Commons*

The flight from Beijing Airport (PAK) to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) is approximately 2 hours and 25 mins.

*AIR CHINA BOEING 747-400 AT BEJING CAPITAL AIRPORT CHINA*
Photo:calflier001|Wikimedia commons

Distance	668 miles
2019 rank	7
2024 vs 2019 rank	-2%

8.Mumbai – Delhi

Route	Mumbai airport (BOM) -Delhi airport (DEL)
Seats	7,963,686
Rank in 2023	9

As per the information gained from flightconnection.com, the airlines that provide non-stop services for the flight from Mumbai Airport (BOM) to Delhi Airport (DEL) are Air India express, Indigo Airlines, Spice Jet, Akasa Air, among others.

Indira Gandhi International Airport is the main airport of Delhi, located 16 km southwest of New Delhi’s city center. It is the busiest airport in India in terms of daily flights and the second busiest for passenger traffic, after Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport.
Photo:Ramesh NG |Wikimedia commons

Nearest airport to Delhi airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport on the present context there are 5 airlines operating on Mumbai to Delhi flight and approximately 86 flights take off from Mumbai to Delhi every week.

*Aerial View of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.*
Photo: Anonymous8010|Wikimedia Commons

Distance	706 miles
2019 rank	6
2024 vs 2019 rank	3%

The flight from Mumbai Airport to Delhi Airport typically takes around 2 hours and 50 minutes on average.

7.Tokyo Haneda – Okinawa Naha

*In the airport variety of airplanes can be seen of different airlines operating companies*
Photo: Masahiro TAKAGI |Wikimedia Commons

Route	Tokyo Haneda airport (HND) – Okinawa Naha airport (OKA)
Seats	8,033,641
Ranks in 2023	7

The airlines providing nonstop services from Tokyo-Haneda to Okinawa Naha are:

Japan Airlines
Skymark Airlines
Solaseeed Airlines

*Naha airport seen from domestic departure gates*
Photo:Syced|Wikimedia Commons

The Tokyo Haneda to Okinawa Naha route is popular for domestic travel, as Haneda is a key hub with great connectivity. Naha is the gateway to Okinawa’s beaches and culture, making it a convenient option for those seeking a tropical escape within Japan.

Distance	965 miles
2019 rank	9
2024 vs 2019 rank	7

*A Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) E-2 Hawkeye parked at the Naha Air Show*
Photo:Balon Greyjoy|Wikimedia Commons

The flight from Tokyo Haneda to Okinawa Naha is approximately 3 hours long.

6. Jeddah – Riyadh

*The Airplane Taking off from the runway of Jeddah Riyadh airport of Saudi Arab*
Photo:Francisco Anzola|Wikimedia commons

Route	Jeddah airport (JED ) -Riyadh airport (RUH)
Seats	8,700,415
Ranks in 2023	8

During flight from JED to RUH airport there are some airlines operators on this routes which provides non -stop services they are:

Saudi Arabia
Flyadeal
Flynas

On January 27, 2015, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and former colleague Senator John McCain arrived at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh to offer condolences for King Abdullah’s death and meet with the new King Salman.
Photo: u.s. Department of state |Wikimedia commons

The Jeddah to Riyadh flight is one of the world’s busiest domestic routes, linking Jeddah, the commercial hub and gateway to Mecca, with Riyadh, the administrative capital. It’s particularly crowded during religious seasons.

Distance	529 miles
2019 rank	8
2024v vs 2019 rank	9%

*Saudi Arabian Airlines Airbus A320-214 departing to Riad (RUH) Airport*
Photo: Oliver Holzbauer|Wikimedia commons

Each week, a total of 264 flights operate between King Abdelaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh.

5. Melbourne – Sydney

*Melbourne Airport aerial view, after takeoff from there on a flight to Sydney by some unknown peoples*
Photo:Dicklyon|Wikimedia Commons

Route

MEL-SYD

Melbourne Airport (MEL) – Sydney Airport (SYD)

Seats

9,217,377

Rank in 2023

The flight operators that are providing non-stop services from Melbourne to Sydney are as follows:

Qantas
Virgin Australia

*International Terminal of Melbourne airport*
Photo: Phil Vabre|Wikimedia Commons

The Melbourne to Sydney flight is a key domestic route, linking Australia’s two largest cities. It’s one of the busiest flight paths globally due to high demand from business, tourism, and personal travel.

Distance	438 miles
2019 rank	5
2024 vs 2019 rank	-7%

*Bombardier Dash 8 and other aircrafts at Melbourne Airport*
Photo:Alpha|Wikimedia Commons

In total there are 35 flights flies per day in general from Melbourne to Sydney. 258 flights in total flies from Melbourne to Sydney per week.

4.Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City

Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi is Vietnam’s second busiest, after Tan Son Nhat. It has two terminals: Terminal 1 for domestic and Terminal 2 for international flights, and serves as a hub for Vietnam Airlines, Vie travel Airlines, Bamboo Airways, and VietJet Air.
Photo:Rudolph.A.Furtado|Wikimedia commons

Route	Hanoi Airport (HAN) – Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN)
Seats	10,631,435
Rank in 2023	4

From HAN TO SGN there are some airline operators which provide non-stop flights some of them are :

Vietnam airlines
Viet Jet Air
Bamboo airways
Vie travel airlines

Tan Son Nhat, Vietnam’s busiest airport, handled 32.5 million passengers in 2016, 38.5 million in 2018, and 41 million in 2023. With a capacity of only 30 million, congestion led to plans for a new airport, set to open by 2025.
Photo: David McKelvey |Wikimedia commons

The Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City flight is a busy domestic route, linking Vietnam’s top economic hubs. High demand from businesses, tourists, and families makes it one of the world’s busiest, driven by the country’s economic growth and dense population.

*Terminal 3 building of Tan Son Nhat Airport*
Photo:Biodin|Wikimedia Commons

Distance	720 miles
2019 rank	4
2019 vs 2024 rank	4%

3.Fukuoka – Tokyo Haneda

*Fukuoka Airport (IATA: FUK) was once Itazuke Air Base. It is situated 1.6 miles east of Hakata Station in Fukuoka. The airport has a 2,800-meter runway and covers 355 hectares of land.*
Photo: Muyo|Wikimedia commons

Route	Fukuoka Airport (FUK)-Tokyo Haneda airport (HND)
Seats	11,335,551
Rank in 2023	3

*Aerial Photograph of Fukuoka airport and nearby station*
Photo:国土交通省|Wikimedia Commons

While flying from Fukuoka airport to Tokyo Haneda airport there are some airplane operators which provides non-stop flight services some of the Japan airlines

Star Flyer
Skymark airlines
Japan airlines

*Haneda Airfield, opened in 1931, started with a 300-meter runway and a small terminal. Its first flight, on August 25, 1931, carried insects to Dairen (now in China).*
Photo:Ka23 13|Wikimedia Commons

Distance	547 miles
2019 rank	3
2019 vs 2024 rank	-1%

The flight from Fukuoka (FUK) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) typically takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes, but this may vary depending on the type of aircraft used by different airline operators. There are a total of 48 flights available per day from FUK to HND, with a weekly total of 335 flights. Flight durations may vary based on the airline and aircraft used.

2. Sapporo New Chitose – Tokyo Haneda

New Chitose Airport, 2.7 nautical miles south of Chitose, is Hokkaidō’s largest airport, serving Sapporo. Adjacent to Chitose Air Base, it shares taxiways with the base, using Chitose’s runways during winter closures.
*Photo: calflier001|Wikimedia Commons*

Route	Sapporo New Chitose Airport (CTS) – Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
Seats	11,931,572
Ranks in 2023	2

*Boeing B737-800s operated by Skymark Airlines which is known as non stop service providing airlines operator of this route*
Photo: Steven Byles |Wikimedia commons

Distance	509 miles
2019 rank	2
2019 vs 2024 rank	5%

*Boeing 747-200b of Japan Airlines*
Photo:Ralf Manteufel|Wikimedia commons

In general, there are total 863 flights in a week from CTS-HND Airport. Some operators that provide non-stop services between these airports are:

Air Do
Japan Airlines
Skymark Airlines

1. Jeju International – Seoul Gimpo

*JEJU Airlines one of the operators which provides non-stop services*
Photo: 정찬송|Wikimedia Commons

The Seoul-Jeju route is busy due to Jeju’s popularity, natural beauty, luxury resorts, frequent flights, and affordable prices.

Route	Jeju International Airport (CJU)- Seoul Gimpo Airport (GMP)
Seats	14,183,719
Ranks in 2023	1

*Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner of Korean Airlines*
Photo: Adam Moreira |Wikimedia commons

Distance	279 miles
2019 rank	1
2019 vs 2024 rank	-19%

*Jin Air Aircraft Boeing 737-86N HL*
Photo:LERK|Wikimedia Commons

some of the airlines operating on these routes which provides non stop services are :

Air Busan
Easter Jet
Jeju Air
Korean Air
Jin Air
Air Seoul