Where Did the World Fly Most Frequently in 2024?

Global air travel continued to soar in 2024, with many international and domestic routes experiencing remarkable year-on-year growth. New data from aviation analytics firm OAG reveals key trends and insights, with a few surprises in the mix. 

Examining the number of seats offered between global airports, seven out of 10 of the world’s busiest routes for 2024 were in the Asia-Pacific region. However other parts of the world also posted impressive growth.

Taking a closer look at the international top three, Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita claimed third place with 5.4 million seats, falling short of the second spot by just 58,000 seats. Capacity between these two East Asian capitals jumped by 30% year-on-year and a 68% compared to 2019. 

Solid demand among leisure travelers helped boost the numbers, however, it comes as Japan juggles overtourism concerns. Earlier this year, officials introduced a daily limit of 4,000 climbers at Mount Fuji. A fee of JPY 2,000 ($12) was also added by Yamanashi Prefecture to combat overcrowding and improve safety. 

Many see the challenges at Japan’s most famous landmark as repres