MEGAHUBS

INDEX 2019

The world's most internationally connected airports

About OAG Megahubs Index 2019

The OAG Megahubs Index 2019 reveals the 50 most internationally connected airports in the world and the 25 most domestically connected airports in the U.S. The index is generated by comparing the number of scheduled connections to and from international flights with the number of destinations served from the airport. The Megahubs Index harnesses the world’s most comprehensive schedules database to dynamically build connections through a dedicated analytics platform Connections Analyser and is further enhanced by OAG’s MCT Exception Table.

The top 50 International Megahubs are those airports with the highest ratio of possible scheduled international connections to the number of destinations served by the airport. Online and interline connections are included and utilising the power of Connections Analyser, low-cost carriers (LCC) connections are also included.

Rank Airport Country Connectivity Index Dominant Carrier Share of flights at hub
1 LHR United Kingdom 317 British Airways 51%
2 FRA Germany 309 Lufthansa German Airlines 63%
3 ORD USA 290 United Airlines 46%
4 AMS Netherlands 279 KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines 52%
5 MUC Germany 259 Lufthansa German Airlines 59%
6 YYZ Canada 251 Air Canada 59%
7 CDG France 250 Air France 50%
8 ATL USA 247 Delta Air Lines 79%
9 SIN Singapore 240 Singapore Airlines 24%
10 HKG Hong Kong (sar) China 234 Cathay Pacific Airways 26%
11 ICN Korea Republic of 233 Korean Air 23%
12 KUL Malaysia 229 AirAsia 41%
13 LAX USA 219 American Airlines 22%
14 BKK Thailand 214 Thai Airways International 20%
15 MEX Mexico 191 Aeromexico 43%
16 CGK Indonesia 191 Garuda Indonesia 26%
17 IST Turkey 187 Turkish Airlines 79%
18 JFK USA 186 Delta Air Lines 37%
19 DFW USA 185 American Airlines 85%
20 MIA USA 184 American Airlines 75%
21 IAH USA 179 United Airlines 81%
22 HND Japan 178 All Nippon Airways 37%
23 EWR USA 169 United Airlines 70%
24 DXB United Arab Emirates 168 Emirates 49%
25 PVG China 163 China Eastern Airlines 28%
26 SYD Australia 158 Qantas Airways 36%
27 YVR Canada 155 Air Canada 47%
28 MAD Spain 154 Iberia 46%
29 MNL Philippines 153 Cebu Pacific Air 32%
30 SVO Russian Federation 150 Aeroflot Russian Airlines 80%
31 SFO USA 146 United Airlines 49%
32 BOG Colombia 142 Avianca 58%
33 CAN China 142 China Southern Airlines 49%
34 FCO Italy 139 Alitalia - Societa Aerea Italiana S.p.A 43%
35 DEL India 137 IndiGo 32%
36 PEK China 137 Air China 40%
37 SEA USA 133 Alaska Airlines 50%
38 JNB South Africa 128 South African Airways 44%
39 NRT Japan 128 All Nippon Airways 17%
40 ZRH Switzerland 114 SWISS 54%
41 YUL Canada 112 Air Canada 58%
42 VIE Austria 109 Austrian Airlines AG dba Austrian 50%
43 SGN Viet Nam 108 Vietnam Airlines 37%
44 BOS USA 107 JetBlue Airways Corporation 27%
45 BCN Spain 102 Vueling Airlines 42%
46 GRU Brazil 101 LATAM Airlines Group 41%
47 AKL New Zealand 99 Air New Zealand 65%
48 OSL Norway 98 SAS Scandinavian Airlines 37%
49 DMK Thailand 98 Thai AirAsia 45%
50 BOM India 97 IndiGo 32%

With airports and airlines themselves facilitating international connections more and more between low-cost flights, we have compiled the top 25 Megahubs for low-cost connections which include the same or different low-cost carriers.

Rank Airport Country Connectivity Index Dominant Carrier Share of flights at hub
1 KUL Malaysia 150 AirAsia 41%
2 MNL Philippines 90 Cebu Pacific Air 32%
3 SIN Singapore 90 Singapore Airlines 24%
4 ICN Korea Republic of 87 Korean Air 23%
5 SAN USA 83 Southwest Airlines 39%
6 DEL India 82 IndiGo 32%
7 DMK Thailand 81 Thai AirAsia 45%
8 CGK Indonesia 78 Garuda Indonesia 26%
9 MEX Mexico 77 Aeromexico 43%
10 BCN Spain 74 Vueling Airlines 42%
11 BOM India 68 IndiGo 32%
12 JFK USA 64 Delta Air Lines 37%
13 FLL USA 63 JetBlue Airways Corporation 28%
14 LAX USA 60 American Airlines 22%
15 MCO USA 59 Southwest Airlines 25%
16 SAW Turkey 56 Pegasus Airlines 59%
17 YYZ Canada 54 Air Canada 59%
18 MDW USA 54 Southwest Airlines 89%
19 DXB United Arab Emirates 53 Emirates 49%
20 SGN Viet Nam 51 Vietnam Airlines 37%
21 AMS Netherlands 50 KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines 52%
22 SJU Puerto Rico 44 JetBlue Airways Corporation 34%
23 GRU Brazil 42 LATAM Airlines Group 41%
24 NRT Japan 41 All Nippon Airways 17%
25 FUK Japan 40 All Nippon Airways 25%

As the largest domestic aviation market in the world, we include a US domestic Top 25 Megahubs. These airports are those with the highest ratio of possible scheduled connections to the number of destinations served by that airport.

Rank Airport Airport Name Connectivity Index Dominant Carrier Share of flights at hub
1 ORD Chicago O'Hare International Apt 459 United Airlines 48%
2 ATL Atlanta Hartsfield-jackson Intl Apt 394 Delta Air Lines 79%
3 DFW Dallas Dallas/Fort Worth Intl Apt 250 American Airlines 86%
4 CLT Charlotte 232 American Airlines 89%
5 DEN Denver Intl Apt 194 United Airlines 53%
6 DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County 125 Delta Air Lines 77%
7 MSP Minneapolis/St Paul International Apt 117 Delta Air Lines 74%
8 LAX Los Angeles International Apt 113 American Airlines 26%
9 IAH Houston George Bush Intercont. 102 United Airlines 82%
10 SEA Seattle-Tacoma International Apt 94 Alaska Airlines 53%
11 PHL Philadelphia International Apt 93 American Airlines 76%
12 PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Apt 86 American Airlines 50%
13 SLC Salt Lake City 85 Delta Air Lines 73%
14 LGA New York LaGuardia Apt 76 Delta Air Lines 48%
15 BOS Boston Edward L Logan Intl Apt 75 JetBlue Airways 29%
16 SFO San Francisco 75 United Airlines 52%
17 DAL Dallas Love Field 69 Southwest Airlines 92%
18 MDW Chicago Midway Intl 63 Southwest Airlines 92%
19 HNL Honolulu 62 Hawaiian Airlines 58%
20 IAD Washington Dulles International Apt 61 United Airlines 83%
21 LAS Las Vegas McCarran International Apt 57 Southwest Airlines 41%
22 DCA Washington Ronald Reagan National Apt 55 American Airlines 58%
23 EWR Newark Liberty International Apt 49 United Airlines 74%
24 OGG Kahului 42 Hawaiian Airlines 38%
25 BWI Baltimore Washington International Apt 42 Southwest Airlines 63%

Key Highlights

LHR is most connected in the world


London Heathrow Airport (LHR) continues to lead the world as the most internationally connected airport making it the Number 1 Megahub once again. OAG’s Megahubs Index calculates LHR’s score as 317, somewhat below where it was a year ago but still well ahead of its nearest rival. On the busiest day in 2019 the airport will have made possible a massive 65,294 potential scheduled international connections between arriving and departing flights within a six-hour window.

O’Hare remains most internationally connected airport in US

Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) is ranked third, one of 15 North American airports listed among the Top 50 International Megahubs. At ORD, United Airlines operates 46% of all flights but another four of the US International Megahubs – 

Atlanta Airport (ATL), Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport (DFW), Miami Airport (MIA) and Houston Airport (IAH) – operate   with the dominant airline having a 75% share, or more, of all scheduled flight operations.

German Megahubs rise through the ranks

Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) rose to second place giving European airports both the number one and number two spots in the International Megahubs Index. While Munich (MUC) has made a significant move up the Megahubs Index, achieving a 22-point increase in the Connectivity Index and rising from 11th place last year to fifth place this year.

Singapore Airport (SIN) and Hong Kong Airport (HKG) are highest ranked airports in Asia Pacific

Singapore Airport (SIN) and Hong Kong Airport (HKG), ranked ninth and 10th, respectively. While SIN has dropped one place from 2018, HKG has risen up the rankings from 13th place as a result of a 1.5% increase in international connections achieved (within a six-hour window on the busiest day).

In China, the highest ranked airport is Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) which was ranked 25th with a Connectivity Index of 163.

KUL Low-Cost King

Once again, Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) retains its position as the most internationally connected LCC Megahub in the world. With over 20,500 potential LCC connections in a 6 hour window, the airport has an LCC connectivity index of 150, considerably higher than the rest of the Top 25. Low-cost carrier AirAsia is the largest airline with 41% of all flights.

San Diego (SAN) enters the Top 25 LCC Megahubs for the first time

In fifth place, it the highest ranked non-Asian airport on the list and the highest placed airport in the Americas. SAN has seen above average growth in the last year and Southwest is the dominant carrier with 39% of seats. Incheon (ICN) moves up from seventh place to fourth this year with an increase in both destinations and potential connections.

Chicago Boost

Chicago Midway (MDW) climbs into the Top 25 in 18th place from 96th last year.

Southwest dominates at MDW operating 89% of seats.

Asia continues to dominate LCC Megahubs

Incheon (ICN) moves up from seventh place to fourth this year with an increase in both destinations and potential connections. Manila (MNL) moves up into second place from fourth last year, whilst Singapore (SIN) remains in third place.

ORD Still The Largest US Megahub

Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) retains its place as the largest US Domestic Megahub in 2019. With a Connectivity Index score of 459, the airport ranks well ahead of other US airports for connectivity. On the busiest day this year a total of 83,580 possible connections were possible between domestic scheduled flights within a three hour time window at ORD, 2% more than last year. United Airlines operates 48% of flights, down slightly from 50% in 2018.

Second Spot For Atlanta

Ranked second is Atlanta Airport (ATL) where passengers could make any one of a possible 63,466 domestic connections on the busiest day in 2019. Delta Air Lines’ dominance of flight operations at ATL continues with the airline operating 79% of all flights.

High connectivity doesn’t always mean a dominant carrier

At the other end of the spectrum Los Angeles Airport (LAX) and Boston Airport (BOS) operate with the dominant airline having less than a third of flights, demonstrating that high connectivity does not depend on the presence of a major single committed carrier. At LAX the largest operator is American Airlines with 26% of domestic flights and at BOS JetBlue operates 29% of flights.

US Connectivity Decline

Overall, connectivity declined slightly with the Top 25 US Domestic Megahubs achieving an average Connectivity Index
score of 123 compared to 128 in 2019. While individual airports moved up and down the ranking, the Top 25 airports remain the same Top 25 as last year.

TOP INTERNATIONAL MEGAHUBS BY REGION

Rank Airport Country Connectivity Index Dominant Carrier Share of flights at hub
1 SIN Singapore 240 Singapore Airlines 24%
2 HKG Hong Kong (sar) China 234 Cathay Pacific Airways 26%
3 ICN Korea Republic of 233 Korean Air 23%
4 KUL Malaysia 229 AirAsia 41%
5 BKK Thailand 214 Thai Airways International 20%
6 CGK Indonesia 191 Garuda Indonesia 26%
7 HND Japan 178 All Nippon Airways 37%
8 PVG China 163 China Eastern Airlines 28%
9 SYD Australia 158 Qantas Airways 36%
10 MNL Philippines 153 Cebu Pacific Air 32%
Rank Airport Country Connectivity Index Dominant Carrier Share of flights at hub
1 LHR United Kingdom 317 British Airways 51%
2 FRA Germany 309 Lufthansa German Airlines 63%
3 AMS Netherlands 279 KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines 52%
4 MUC Germany 259 Lufthansa German Airlines 59%
5 CDG France 250 Air France 50%
6 IST Turkey 187 Turkish Airlines 79%
7 MAD Spain 154 Iberia 46%
8 SVO Russian Federation 150 Aeroflot Russian Airlines 80%
9 FCO Italy 139 Alitalia - Societa Aerea Italiana S.p.A 43%
10 ZRH Switzerland 114 SWISS 54%
Rank Airport Country Connectivity Index Dominant Carrier Share of flights at hub
1 DXB United Arab Emirates 168 Emirates 49%
2 JNB South Africa 128 South African Airways 44%
3 DOH Qatar 95 Qatar Airways 85%
4 RUH Saudi Arabia 66 Saudi Arabian Airlines 51%
5 ADD Ethiopia 56 Ethiopian Airlines 93%
6 JED Saudi Arabia 56 Saudi Arabian Airlines 50%
7 AUH United Arab Emirates 54 Etihad Airways 78%
8 CAI Egypt 50 Egyptair 52%
9 MCT Oman 50 Oman Air 60%
10 KWI Kuwait 43 Kuwait Airways 27%
Rank Airport Country Connectivity Index Dominant Carrier Share of flights at hub
1 ORD USA 290 United Airlines 46%
2 YYZ Canada 251 Air Canada 59%
3 ATL USA 247 Delta Air Lines 79%
4 LAX USA 219 American Airlines 22%
5 JFK USA 186 Delta Air Lines 37%
6 DFW USA 185 American Airlines 85%
7 MIA USA 184 American Airlines 75%
8 IAH USA 179 United Airlines 81%
9 EWR USA 169 United Airlines 70%
10 YVR Canada 155 Air Canada 47%
Rank Airport Country Connectivity Index Dominant Carrier Share of flights at hub
1 MEX Mexico 191 Aeromexico 43%
2 BOG Colombia 142 Avianca 58%
3 GRU Brazil 101 LATAM Airlines Group 41%
4 PTY Panama 97 Copa Airlines 89%
5 LIM Peru 93 LATAM Airlines Group 53%
Connections

Evaluate and understand connection performance

How do airline services impact connections at an airport? What is the impact of increasing or decreasing capacity on certain routes? It's easy to analyse and interpret your data with OAG Connections Analyser. To find out how to increase your connectivity with OAG, click here.

Further Info on the oag megahubs international index 2019

In an increasingly competitive landscape, providing measures to enable comparison between leading international airports is key. The Megahubs International Index measures the effectiveness of the world’s leading international hubs as connecting points, globally and regionally, and provides a platform for comparison for these international airports.

The OAG Megahubs International Index 2018 presents connectivity data as a series of tables based on regional location and airline type. This year the index includes the dominant carrier at each hub and the share of flights operated by that carrier.

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OAG has calculated the total number of all possible connections between inbound and outbound flights within a six-hour window, where either the inbound, outbound, or both flights are international, at the largest 200 airports in the world (based on total scheduled seats in July 2019) and at the largest 200 international airports (based on total international scheduled seats in July 2019) on the busiest day for global aviation over the 12 months to July 2019.


For the purposes of this analysis, in addition to the in-built business rules within OAG Connections Analyser, the following customisable criteria were chosen for all operating flights:

Single international* connections only to/from the chosen airports;

Maximum circuity of 150;

Minimum Connection Time (MCT) varies by individual airport. OAG holds the MCT information for every commercial airport in operation;

Maximum connection window of six hours;

*international connections include domestic to international, international to domestic and international to international connections

The US Domestic index uses the same methodology but has different criteria as follows:

Single domestic connections only to/from the chosen airports
Maximum circuity of 120
Maximum Connection Window of three hours

 

MEGAHUBS 2022

In the post-Covid era, operations in the largest airports in the world have changed and slower recovery patterns have affected global connectivity. 


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