OAG Megahubs 2024, the market’s definitive ranking of the Top 50 internationally connected airports in the world, has landed. What insights can we gain from this year’s report?

At the top of the Megahubs 2024 rankings is London Heathrow, which retains its position from last year, as the world’s most connected airport – due to its extensive range of destinations and the number of potential connecting opportunities on the busiest day of the year for global aviation.

So, the #1 ranking remains the same as last year, but what about the rest of the Top 10 Megahubs? Well, the same airports are included this year, but the rankings have changed – with a notable shift in the position of Asian hubs.
The regional locations of the Top 10 Megahubs 2024 are as follows:

• 5 in EMEA
• 3 in Asia
• 2 in North America

The three Asian hubs have all moved up the rankings, including Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Tokyo Haneda (HND) which move up to 2nd and 3rd place respectively from 4th and 5th last year, whilst North America’s New York (JFK) falls from 2nd place to 6th this year.

It’s a promising sign for the Asian market – what other insights can we glean from Megahubs 2024 about the region?

Signs of recovery for the Asian market

• KUL moves up to 2nd from 4th place last year, a significant growth trajectory when compared to its pre-pandemic position five years ago when it was the 12th most connected Megahub globally. (Whilst KUL doesn’t serve the highest number of destinations, it offers a high ratio of connections to those destinations, pushing it up the rankings).
• HND moves up to 3rd from 5th place last year and from 22nd most connected Megahub in 2019. (Similarly, the number of destinations served from HND is lower than many of its peers, but it offers proportionately more connections per destination than others).
• Connectivity growth in Asia is spread widely, with an additional 4 Megahubs in South East Asia making the list (CGK, BKK, MNL and SIN), and 7 in North East Asia (NRT, PVG, HKG, FUK, CAN, TPE and PEK).

Istanbul offers the most destinations

• The Megahub with the most destinations is Istanbul (IST) which has services to 324 airports in the last 12 months. Proportionately there are slightly fewer connections from IST than some other hubs, hence its position in 8th place.
• More than three quarters of flights from IST are operated by its home-based carrier, Turkish Airlines.

15 North American airports appear in the Global Top 50

• New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) leads U.S. airports, ranking #6 in the Global Top 50 list.
• JFK is followed by Chicago O’Hare (ORD) at #9, up one spot globally from last year.

Copa Airlines a highflier at Panama

• The Megahub with the highest share of flights operated by one carrier is Panama (PTY) where Copa operated 91% of all flights in the last 12 months.

Megahubs 2024 highlights many strong areas of recovery and growth, particularly in Asia with three of its hubs climbing up the rankings.