Asia-Pacific routes now command an unprecedented dominance in the world’s busiest air corridors, according to fresh data released by OAG, the leading data platform for the global travel industry. The analysis, powered by OAG’s Global Airline Schedules Data, reveals that nine of the world’s 10 busiest airline routes are now located in the Asia-Pacific region.
The South Korean domestic route between Jeju (CJU) and Seoul Gimpo (GMP) has claimed the top spot, with a staggering 14.4 million seats scheduled for 2025, averaging approximately 39,000 seats per day across seven carriers. Despite this impressive volume, the route has seen only a modest 1% increase since 2024 and remains 17% below its pre-pandemic capacity levels. These figures suggest further growth potential in the coming years.
Asia-Pacific Domestic Routes Dominate Global Rankings
The strength of Asia Pacific’s aviation sector is unmistakable in the 2025 rankings. Following the chart-topping Jeju-Seoul Gimpo route, Japan secures both the second and third positions with the Sapporo New Chitose (CTS) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) route, scheduling 12.1 million seats, and the Fukuoka (FUK) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) route offering 11.5 million seats.
These Japanese domestic corridors highlight the country’s robust internal air travel infrastructure and continued demand for business and leisure connectivity between major urban centers and the capital. Vietnam’s Hanoi (HAN) to Ho Chi Minh (SGN) route ranks fourth with a notable 4% year-over-year growth. Meanwhile, China’s domestic market is showing increasing strength, with the Shanghai (SHA) to Shenzhen (SZX) route experiencing 5% capacity growth, propelling it into the tenth position from its eleventh spot last year.
Middle East’s Sole Representative Shows Remarkable Growth
While Asia Pacific routes dominate the rankings, the only non-Asia Pacific route to crack the top ten is the Jeddah (JED) to Riyadh (RUH) corridor in Saudi Arabia, which ranks fifth. This Middle Eastern powerhouse route has demonstrated the most impressive growth among the top ten, with a remarkable 13% increase in seat capacity compared to 2024, now offering 9.8 million seats annually. This surge reflects Saudi Arabia’s expanding tourism industry and booming business activities as part of its economic diversification efforts.
John Grant, OAG’s Chief Analyst, emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that “the importance and scale of these routes cannot be underestimated and highlights the strength of emergent markets around the world. For Asia Pacific to be home to nine out of the ten largest routes in the world, all of which are domestic, is a remarkable indication of how these routes have recovered in recent times and their significance to the airlines operating those sectors.”
Cross-Border Connections Highlight Regional Economic Ties
While domestic routes capture the top ten positions globally, cross-border routes also demonstrate significant demand. The Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE) route remains the busiest international route of 2025, with 6.8 million seats scheduled. Following closely behind are the Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED) route, with 5.8 million seats, and the Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore Changi (SIN) route, with 5.6 million seats scheduled for the year.
