There are 17 airports located in Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the Top 50 Global rankings, with 5 of the Top 10 Megahubs in Western Europe. Some key moves in EMEA this year include the increased connectivity at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW), which is now 7th largest in Europe and 21st globally, up from 29th last year. Madrid (MAD) has also climbed up the global rankings from 25th to 18th and is the 6th largest Megahub in EMEA. Dominant carriers at these European airports typically account for 52% of capacity.

Dubai (DXB) is the most connected Megahub in the Middle East & Africa, ranking 31st globally, with Emirates operating 41% of flights. Johannesburg (JNB) is the region’s second most connected and the leading African Megahub, followed by Riyadh (RUH) and Doha (DOH). At Addis Ababa (ADD), Ethiopian Airlines operates 94% of flights — the highest dominant carrier share in the region.

Eight of the Top 10 Asia Pacific Megahubs are in the Top 25 Global ranking this year. This includes two Chinese airports, Shanghai (PVG) and Baiyun International (CAN). Both Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Seoul Incheon (ICN) stand out in the rankings with a strong mix of FSC and LCC connectivity. This highlights the increasingly diverse traveller segmentation across generations in both Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. The average share of dominant carriers at the Top 10 Asian airports is relatively low at 33%.

In North America, 9 of the Top 10 Megahubs are in the USA, with one in Canada. The most connected is Chicago, 5th in the global rankings (up from 7th in 2025). The composition of the Top 10 most connected airports in North America remains the same as last year, although some of the positions have changed, with Houston George Bush (IAH) dropping from 5th in North America to 7th and Toronto (YYZ) moving up from 8th to 6th place.

Bogota (BOG) remains the most connected Megahub in Latin America this year and ranks 13th globally, up from 16th last year. Panama City (PTY) is second most-connected with the dominant carrier, Copa Airlines, operating 91% of flights – the highest dominant carrier share in the continent.

Ranking 1st in the Low-Cost Megahubs index, Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) has almost 15,000 possible low-cost connections across 154 destinations. AirAsia is the dominant carrier with 34% share of total flights at KUL.

In the Top 25 Low-Cost Megahubs, the regional distribution remains unchanged this year:

In terms of the spread across Asia, there are 8 in Southeast Asia, 5 in Northeast Asia, 2 in South Asia and 1 in the Southwest Pacific. LCCs dominate capacity across Southeast Asia, accounting for 51% of all seats, significantly higher than the global average of 34%.

Incheon (ICN) remains in 2nd place this year with a high ratio of LCC connectivity to 198 destinations.

One of the highest climbers in the LCC Megahubs index is Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) which has risen from 7th place last year to 3rd this year. Pegasus Airlines, the Turkish-based LCC, accounts for 64% of LCC capacity at SAW. Capacity at SAW has increased by 10% year-on-year and there are 10 new destinations, taking the airport to a total of 162.

Barcelona (BCN) remains the highest-ranked European airport, moving up 5 positions in this year’s ranking to 4th place. Vueling dominates LCC capacity at the airport, with a 72% share and are also the dominant carrier overall, operating 40% of all capacity at BCN.

Singapore Changi (SIN) has also moved up the rankings considerably, from 10th place last year to 5th this year, with an increase in both destinations served and potential LCC connections.

Another key mover is Fukuoka (FUK) in 8th place, up from 13th last year. Skymark, the Japanese LCC, operates 35% of LCC capacity at the airport.

Given the scale of the US domestic market, we rank the 25 airports with the highest ratio of possible scheduled connections to destinations served.

Chicago O’Hare (ORD) retains first place as the most connected US Megahub. Atlanta (ATL) carries higher domestic volumes, ORD offers more connecting options across more destinations and is growing faster, with capacity up 12% this year. Domestic destinations have grown from 214 to 227, the widest domestic reach of any US airport, with 83,647 potential connections on the busiest day. Chicago also has the most diverse airline portfolio of any US hub: United Airlines, the dominant carrier, operates just 49% of flights at the airport - considerably lower than the dominant carrier shares at Atlanta, Dallas Fort Worth or Charlotte.

Atlanta (ATL), the world’s busiest airport by capacity, holds second place with a high level of potential connections across 170 domestic destinations. Delta Air Lines operates 80% of all flights at the airport.

Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) ranks third, with 47,183 potential connections across 195 destinations. American Airlines operates 85% of flights at DFW - one of the highest single-carrier shares in the ranking. American also has a very strong position at Charlotte (CLT), the fifth-ranked US Domestic Megahub, where it operates 88% of all flights.

The Top 25 composition remains unchanged from 2025, but there has been movement in the top 10:

San Francisco (SFO) makes the biggest jump, up from 17th to 11th and is also amongst the fastest growing Top 25 US Megahubs, with capacity increasing by 4% in the year to August 2026.

Chicago Midway (MDW) has seen strong growth this year, with potential connections increasing by 23% and destinations increasing by 5. Nashville (BNA) has seen similar growth, with an increase of 27% in potential connections.