As global air travel continues its post-pandemic normalization, airfare trends on the world’s busiest routes reveal where competition is intensifying. By comparing average lowest one-way fares at departure in 2025 versus 2024, this analysis highlights how airlines are pricing seats on the world's most flown routes.
Methodology: Airfare data is calculated as the annual average of the lowest available economy one-way airfare at departure, with prices aggregated in the first week of December and reported in US dollars (USD$).
Top 10 Busiest Flight Routes: Airfare Changes Year-on-Year
Highest and Lowest Airfares on the World’s Busiest Routes
Highest Airfare: $304 on Beijing (PEK) - Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) +35% YoY
- This route competes with high speed rail - the fastest rail journey is 4h18m between Beijing and Shanghai - so the increase in economy airfares suggests air is still competitive on this route.
Lowest Airfare: $44 on Jeju (CJU) to Seoul Gimpo (GMP) -11% YoY
- Given the nature of competition - as this is the world's busiest route - some airfare reductions are expected.
Which routes have seen the biggest airfare fluctuations year-on-year?
Most increased airfare: +35% Beijing (PEK) - Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) $304
Most decreased airfare: -12% Fukuoka (FUK) - Tokyo Haneda (HND) $101
Which routes are the most competitive?
- Jeju (CJU) to Seoul Gimpo (GMP) and Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) to Shenzhen (SZX) are the most competitive routes, both routes have seven carriers operating on them, with extreme competition across legacy and low-cost airlines.
- Vietnam’s largest domestic route between Hanoi (HAN) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) is also highly competitive with six carriers and saw airfares decrease by 11% year-on-year, with the average one-way economy ticket costing $67. Vietnam’s air market faced some turmoil and contraction in the years following the global pandemic, but the outlook appears positive and growth seems set to continue. In 2025, capacity on this route grew by 8%, considerably above the regional average.
Which is the fastest growing route by airline capacity?
Saudi Arabia’s flagship domestic route between Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH) is the fastest growing route in the top ten:
- 8 million seats were scheduled on this route in 2025, a 22% capacity increase YoY
- The average one-way lowest economy airfare was $95, a 27% airfare increase YoY
- 3 carriers operate on this 460-mile route
The pace of growth of this route reflects the significant investment underway in transitioning Saudi Arabia’s economy and an increased focus on air travel within and beyond the Kingdom.
Top 10 Busiest Cross-Border Flight Routes: Airfare Changes Year-on-Year
Highest and Lowest Airfares on the World’s Busiest Cross-Border Routes
Highest Airfare: $585 on New York JFK (JFK) - London Heathrow (LHR)
Lowest Airfare: $62 on Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Singapore Changi (SIN)
Which routes have seen the biggest airfare fluctuations year-on-year?
Most increased airfare: Kuala Lumpur (KUL) - Singapore Changi (SIN) +8%
Most decreased airfare: Tokyo Narita (NRT) – Taipei (TPE) -15%
Which routes are the most competitive?
- Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Taipei (TPE) is the most competitive route with ten carriers operating on it, which is undoubtedly a key factor in the 15% reduction in fares YoY. This route is also fairly static year on year, with just 1% growth.
- The popularity of the Middle East’s largest trunk route, Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED), is evident by the sheer number of carriers operating on it, totalling nine in 2025. Average one-way fares of $145, mark a 12% reduction on the previous year.
Which is the fastest growing cross border route by airline capacity?
Seoul Incheon (ICN) - Tokyo Narita (NRT) was the fastest growing route in 2025, this Japanese to South Korea route increased capacity by 58% YoY with 5.1 million seats scheduled in 2025, lowest average one-way fares on this route were 12% down YoY at $140.
Other Key Highlights:
- The busiest cross-border airline route in 2025 remained Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE), this route had seven carriers operating on it in 2025. Year-on-year airfares reduced on this route by 6%, to $115.
- Average fares have fallen on the Bangkok (BKK) to Hong Kong (HKG) route by 13% YoY to $168, reflecting the waning demand for Chinese outbound tourists to Thailand.
