In Pictures: Top 10 Busiest International Flight Routes of 2024

Some of the busiest international airports in this list of the busiest flight routes of 2024 also featured on the list of the busiest international airports for 2024. Some also made it to the busiest global airports of 2024, and the busiest European airports for the year. Let’s take a look at the busiest flight routes for the year gone by. 

                                                     10. New York – London

Route	John F Kennedy Airport (JFK) – London Heathrow (LHR)
Seats	4,011,235
Rank in 2023	8

The airlines offering non-stop flights between LHR and JFK are*:

• British Airways
• American Airlines
•  Delta Air Lines 
•  JetBlue Airways
• Virgin Atlantic. 

Distance	3461 miles
2019 rank	8
2024 vs 2019	5%

                        

 The flight from London Heathrow Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York is approximately 8 hours and 10 minutes long depending on the aircraft .The total number of flights in 24 hours is 21.

On February 7, 1996, Concorde recorded a spellbindingly fast flight of just two hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds from LHR to JFK.

Virgin Atlantic made history by operating the world’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flight from London’s Heathrow to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.                                  

9. Bangkok – Singapore Changi

 

Route	Suvarnabhumi Airport  Bangkok (BKK) – Singapore Changi Airport Singapore (SIN)
Seats	4,033,344
Rank in 2023	9

The airlines offering non-stop flights between BKK to SIN are Cathay Pacific, Jetstar Asia, Scoot, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways

Distance	879 miles (1,415 km)
2019 rank	9
2024 vs 2019	5%

                   

The flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to Singapore Changi is approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes long depending on the aircraft.

Flights from BKK to SIN are operated at an average of 20 flights per day.

Average weekly flights	137
Departure times	08:00 – 21:20

 

8. Jakarta – Singapore Changi

Route	Hatta International Airport Jakarta(CGK) – Singapore Changi(SIN)
Seats	4,069,071
Rank in 2023	7

The airlines offering non-stop flights between Soekarno–Hatta International Airport and Singapore Changi are:

• AirAsia
• Batik Air
• Citilink 
• Garuda Indonesia Airways
• Jetstar Asia
• Scoot Airlines 
• Singapore Airlines
• TransNusa

Distance	548 miles (882 km)
2019 rank	3
2024 vs 2019	-26%

Flights from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (CGK) to Singapore Changi (SIN) are operated 220 times a week, with an average of 31 flights per day. The first flight departs at 05:25.

Average weekly flights	220
Departure times	05:25 – 21:50

7. Bangkok – Hong Kong

 

Route	Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Hong Kong International Airport(HKG)
Seats	4,201,802
Rank in 2023	11

The airlines offering non-stop flights between Suvarnabhumi Airport (New Bangkok) toHong Kong International Airport are Cathay Pacific

• Fly Emirates
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Greater Bay Airlines
• Hong Kong Airlines
• Hong Kong Express
• Thai Airways

Flights from BKK to HKG are operated at average of 24 flights per day.

Weekly flights	166
Departure times	02:00 – 22:15

 

Distance	1,048 miles (1,687 km)
2019 rank	4
2024 vs 2019	-13%

Bangkok-Hong Kong was in seventh place with 4.2 million seats this year. This number is 23% higher than the previous year but still 19% lower than before the COVID-19 outbreak.

6. Dubai – Riyadh

 

Route	Dubai International Airport(DXB) to King Khalid International Airport(KKIA)
Seats	4,306,599
Rank in 2023	6

The airlines offering non-stop flights between Dubai International Airport to King Khalid International Airport are:

•  Fly Emirate
• Flyadeal Airlines 
• Flydubai 
• Flynas
•  Saudi Arabian Airlines 

  

                                

Distance	542 miles  (872 km)
2019 rank	19
2024 vs 2019	37%

Flights from DXB to RUH are operated at an average of 29 flights per day. The earliest flight departs at 00:01, and the last flight departs at 23:25.

Average weekly flights	200
Departure times	00:01-23:25

                    

A trip between Dubai and Riyadh — currently two hours by plane — could be possible in under 50 minutes.

5.  Seoul Incheon – Osaka Kansai

 

Route	Incheon International Airport (ICN) – Kansai International Airport(KIX)
Seats	4,982,769
Rank in 2023	4

 

The airlines offering non-stop flights between ICN-KIX are 

• Air Busan,
• Air Seoul
•  Asiana Airlines
•  Eastar Jet
• Jeju Air
• Jin Air
•  Korean Air
• Peach Aviation
• T’way Air

Flights from ICN to KIX are operated at an average of 32 flights per day. 

Weekly flights	221
Departure times	07:00 and 21:00

Distance	534 miles
2019 rank	12
2024 vs 2019	45%

 

4. Kuala Lumpur – Singapore Changi

 

Route	Kuala Lumpur International Airport KUL-Singapore Changi Airport SIN
Seats	5,382,163
Rank in 2023	1

According to flightconnections.com, the airlines offering non-stop flights between KUL to SIN are 

•  AirAsia
•  Batik Air
•  Ethiopian Airlines
•  Jet star Asia
•  Malaysia Airlines
•  Scoot Airlines
•  Singapore Airlines

Flights from KUL to SIN are operated at an average of 38 flights per day.

Weekly flights	269
Departure times	06:00 – 23:20

 

Distance	183 miles
2019 rank	2
2024 vs 2019	-3%

             

3. Seoul Incheon – Tokyo Narita

 

Route	Incheon International Airport KUL- Narita International Airport NRT
Seats	5,410,456
Rank in 2023	5

                 

According to flightconnections.com, the airlines offering non-stop flights between Seoul Incheon KUL- Tokyo Narita NRT are  Aero K, Air Busan, Air Japan, Air Premia, Air Seoul, Asiana Airlines, Eastar Jet, Ethiopian Airlines, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, Tway Air and ZIPAIR are flying nonstop from Seoul to Tokyo.

Flights from ICN to NRT are operated at an average of 32 flights per day. 

Weekly flights	227
Departure times	07:20 – 18:45

 

                          

Distance	780 miles
2019 rank	16
2024 vs 2019	68%

South Korean airlines have captured an overwhelming 92% of flight capacity between South Korea and Japan, according to December 2024 data from.

 

                                             2. Cairo – Jeddah

 

Route	Cairo International Airport(CIA)-King Abdulaziz International Airport(KKIA)
Seats	5,469,274
Rank in 2023	2

According to flightconnections.com, the airlines offering non-stop flights between Cairo CAI – Jeddah JED are

• Air Arabia Egypt
• Air Cairo
• Egypt air
• Flyadeal
• Flynas
• Nesma Airlines
• Nile Air
• Saudi Arabian

                 

Flights from CAI to JED are operated at an average of 34 flights per day:

Weekly flights	238
Departure times	00:01 – 23:55

             

Distance	755 miles
2019 rank	14
2024 vs 2019	62%

 

 

                                              1 Hong Kong – Taipei

Route	Hong Kong International Airport HKG – Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport TPE
Seats	6,781,577
Rank in 2023	3

                             

 

According to flightconnections.com, the airlines offering non-stop flights between Hong Kong  HKG – Taipei TPE are :

• Cathay Pacific
• China Airlines
• EVA Air
• Greater Bay Airlines
• Hong Kong Airlines
• Hong Kong Express
• Starlux Airlines

                           

Distance	500 miles
2019 rank	1
2024 vs 2019	-15%

Flights from HKG to TPE are operated 269 at an average of 38 flights per day. 

Weekly flights	269
Departure times	06:25 – 22:55

             

The expansion of low-cost carriers and increased flight frequencies have played a critical role in boosting capacity. This trend reflects a broader shift in traveler preferences towards affordable and convenient options.

 

*, ** The list of the carriers operating in each route, as mentioned in this article come from flightconnections.com. The same is true for the statistics of weekly flights and flight times.