Busiest flight routes in the world

Which are the world's busiest flight routes?

September 2026

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OAG · Busiest Routes Right Now · September 2026
Busiest Routes Right Now  • 
Jeju to Seoul
is the world's
busiest route
1.08 million seats  •  CJU to GMP
Busiest domestic route
CJU → GMP
Jeju International to Seoul Gimpo
1.08m
−16% YoY
Busiest international route
ICN → NRT
Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita
558k
+41% YoY
Fastest growing route (global intl)
ICN → KIX
Seoul to Osaka Kansai — year-on-year
+24%
+90k seats

What are the world's busiest domestic flight routes?

The World’s Busiest Domestic route in September 2026 is Jeju International (CJU) to Seoul Gimpo (GMP), offering 1.08 million seats, despite capacity declining by 16% compared with September 2025, the largest decrease among the global top ten. Sapporo New Chitose (CTS) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) remains just 15,400 seats behind in second place with 1.07 million seats, recording 6% growth year-on-year. Jeddah (JED) to Riyadh (RUH) climbs to third with 966k seats, posting strong growth of 17%, while Fukuoka (FUK) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) ranks fourth with 948k seats, increasing capacity by 2%. Hanoi (HAN) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) completes the top five with 835k seats, although capacity falls by 9% compared with September 2025. Melbourne (MEL) to Sydney (SYD) ranks sixth with 746k seats, declining by 5%, while Mumbai (BOM) to Delhi (DEL) records the strongest growth among the global top ten, increasing capacity by 20% to 722k seats and ranking seventh. Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Okinawa Naha (OKA) follows in eighth with 651k seats, down 6%. Beijing (PEK) to Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) ranks ninth with 609k seats, with capacity unchanged year-on-year, while Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) to Shenzhen (SZX) rounds out the top ten with 604k seats, recording 4% growth compared with September 2025.

Scheduled seats • September 2026 • bidirectional • hover a route for details

Top 10 global domestic routes

Route (thickness = seats) Airport
RouteSectorSeatsYoY
1.CJU-GMPJeju – Seoul Gimpo1.08m−16%
2.CTS-HNDSapporo – Tokyo Haneda1.07m+6%
3.JED-RUHJeddah – Riyadh966k+17%
4.FUK-HNDFukuoka – Tokyo Haneda948k+2%
5.HAN-SGNHanoi – Ho Chi Minh City835k−9%
6.MEL-SYDMelbourne – Sydney746k−5%
7.BOM-DELMumbai – Delhi722k+20%
8.HND-OKATokyo Haneda – Okinawa651k−6%
9.PEK-SHABeijing – Shanghai Hongqiao609k0%
10.SHA-SZXShanghai Hongqiao – Shenzhen604k+4%
Source: OAG Schedules Analyser · September 2026 · bidirectional seat volumes

What are the world's busiest international flight routes?

Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) moves up to become the World’s Busiest International route in September 2026, offering 558k seats and recording an exceptional 41% growth compared with September 2025, the strongest increase among the world’s top ten international routes. This growth has mostly been driven by LCCs with capacity increasing by 140k seats, 57% up on last year. Korean Air have also added a daily flight, and they now operate 5 flights a day. Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE) moves into second place with 529k seats, with capacity declining by 4% year-on-year. Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED) climbs to third with 500k seats, posting 9% growth, while Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Osaka Kansai (KIX) ranks fourth with 464k seats, recording strong growth of 24%. Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore Changi (SIN) completes the top five with 439k seats, declining by 3% compared with September 2025.

Scheduled seats • September 2026 • bidirectional • hover a route for details

Top 10 global international routes

Route (thickness = seats) Airport
RouteSectorSeatsYoY
1.ICN-NRTSeoul Incheon – Tokyo Narita558k+41%
2.HKG-TPEHong Kong – Taipei529k−4%
3.CAI-JEDCairo – Jeddah500k+9%
4.ICN-KIXSeoul Incheon – Osaka Kansai464k+24%
5.KUL-SINKuala Lumpur – Singapore Changi439k−3%
6.CGK-SINJakarta – Singapore Changi371k−3%
7.NRT-TPETokyo Narita – Taipei346k+5%
8.CAI-RUHCairo – Riyadh330k+21%
9.JFK-LHRNew York JFK – London Heathrow330k−8%
10.FUK-ICNFukuoka – Seoul Incheon330k+11%
Source: OAG Schedules Analyser · September 2026 · bidirectional seat volumes

The remainder of the top ten international routes presents a mixed performance. Jakarta (CGK) to Singapore Changi (SIN) ranks sixth with 371k seats, declining by 3% year-on-year. Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Taipei (TPE) remains one of the leading Asia-Pacific international markets, increasing capacity by 5% to 346k seats in seventh place. Cairo (CAI) to Riyadh (RUH) ranks eighth with 330k seats, recording strong growth of 21%. New York JFK (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR) enters the top ten again in ninth place with 330k seats, despite capacity declining by 8%, the largest decrease among the leading ten international routes. Fukuoka (FUK) to Seoul Incheon (ICN) rounds out the rankings with 330k seats, recording 11% growth compared with September 2025.

Asia Pacific continues to dominate the international market in September 2026, accounting for seven of the world’s ten busiest international routes. Seoul Incheon (ICN) remains a particularly important regional hub, featuring in the world’s busiest international route as well as three of the top ten markets overall. Tokyo Narita (NRT), Singapore Changi (SIN) and Taipei (TPE) also feature across multiple leading routes, underlining the continued strength of intra-Asia international travel. Outside Asia Pacific, Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED) and Cairo (CAI) to Riyadh (RUH) highlight the strength of the Middle East–Africa market, with both routes recording year-on-year growth. New York JFK (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR) is the only Europe–North America market in the top ten.

What are China's busiest domestic flight routes?

Beijing (PEK) to Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) remains China’s Busiest Domestic route in September 2026, offering 609k seats, with capacity broadly unchanged compared with September 2025. Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) to Shenzhen (SZX) retains second place with 604k seats, recording 4% growth year-on-year. Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) to Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) ranks third with 573k seats and records the strongest growth among China’s top ten routes, increasing capacity by 20%. Chengdu (CTU) to Beijing (PEK) follows in fourth with 454k seats, posting strong growth of 15%, while Beijing (PEK) to Shenzhen (SZX) completes the top five with 448k seats, increasing by 2%. Further down the rankings, Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) to Hangzhou (HGH) ranks sixth with 377k seats, with capacity broadly unchanged year-on-year, while Hangzhou (HGH) to Shenzhen (SZX) is seventh with 364k seats, growing by 3%. Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) to Beijing Daxing (PKX) ranks eighth with 358k seats, recording strong growth of 16%. In contrast, Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) to Beijing (PEK) is the only route in the top ten to record a decline, falling by 10% to 317k seats. Chengdu (CTU) to Shenzhen (SZX) rounds out the rankings with 292k seats, increasing by 2% compared with September 2025.

Source: OAG Schedules Analyser · September 2026

What are the USA's busiest domestic flight routes?

Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO) remains the USA’s Busiest Domestic route in September 2026, offering 348k seats and recording a 29% increase compared with September 2025, the strongest growth among the country’s ten busiest domestic routes. New York La Guardia (LGA) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) ranks second with 321k seats, growing by 8%, while New York JFK (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) remains third with 298k seats, increasing by 5% year-on-year. Los Angeles (LAX) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) ranks fourth with 275k seats, posting 15% growth, while Boston (BOS) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) climbs to fifth with 258k seats and records the second-strongest growth among the top ten at 26%. Atlanta (ATL) to Orlando (MCO) follows in sixth with 252k seats, increasing by 15%, while Denver (DEN) to Phoenix (PHX) ranks seventh with 239k seats, up 5%. Honolulu (HNL) to Kahului (OGG) is eighth with 237k seats, declining by 2%, while Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to San Francisco (SFO) ranks ninth with 236k seats, recording strong growth of 18%. Denver (DEN) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) completes the top ten with 232k seats, falling by 5% compared with September 2025, the largest decline among the USA’s leading ten domestic routes.

Route 1
LAX→SFO
Los Angeles – San Francisco
348,098 seats
+29%
Route 2
LGA→ORD
New York La Guardia – Chicago O'Hare
321,426 seats
+8%
Route 3
JFK→LAX
New York JFK – Los Angeles
298,298 seats
+5%
Route 4
LAX→ORD
Los Angeles – Chicago O'Hare
274,851 seats
+15%
Route 5
BOS→ORD
Boston – Chicago O'Hare
257,566 seats
+26%
Route 6
ATL→MCO
Atlanta – Orlando
251,766 seats
+15%
Route 7
DEN→PHX
Denver – Phoenix
239,114 seats
+5%
Route 8
HNL→OGG
Honolulu – Kahului
236,712 seats
−2%
Route 9
ORD→SFO
Chicago O'Hare – San Francisco
235,943 seats
+18%
Route 10
DEN→ORD
Denver – Chicago O'Hare
231,527 seats
−5%

Source: OAG Schedules Analyser · September 2026

Busiest international routes by region

The top international routes in each region — click a region to expand.

RouteSectorSeats
1ICN-NRTSeoul Incheon – Tokyo Narita557,881
2HKG-TPEHong Kong – Taipei528,575
3ICN-KIXSeoul Incheon – Osaka Kansai463,863
4KUL-SINKuala Lumpur – Singapore Changi439,330
5CGK-SINJakarta – Singapore Changi371,268
6NRT-TPETokyo Narita – Taipei345,700
7FUK-ICNFukuoka – Seoul Incheon329,954
8CGK-KULJakarta – Kuala Lumpur302,672
9KIX-TPEOsaka Kansai – Taipei301,956
10HKG-PVGHong Kong – Shanghai Pudong297,119
RouteSectorSeats
1JFK-LHRNew York JFK – London Heathrow330,077
2AYT-SVOAntalya – Moscow Sheremetyevo271,585
3AYT-VKOAntalya – Moscow Vnukovo234,664
4DUS-PMIDuesseldorf – Palma212,306
5CPH-OSLCopenhagen – Oslo202,294
6FCO-MADRome Fiumicino – Madrid202,094
7ARN-CPHStockholm – Copenhagen197,968
8DUB-LHRDublin – London Heathrow193,118
9DXB-LHRDubai – London Heathrow186,120
10LIS-MADLisbon – Madrid182,906
RouteSectorSeats
1JFK-LHRNew York JFK – London Heathrow330,077
2MCO-SJUOrlando – San Juan186,030
3CDG-JFKParis CDG – New York JFK179,048
4LAX-LHRLos Angeles – London Heathrow157,426
5LGA-YYZNew York La Guardia – Toronto146,022
6CDG-YULParis CDG – Montreal135,976
7FCO-JFKRome Fiumicino – New York JFK135,818
8LHR-YYZLondon Heathrow – Toronto132,426
9SFO-TPESan Francisco – Taipei131,100
10BOS-LHRBoston – London Heathrow120,778
RouteSectorSeats
1MCO-SJUOrlando – San Juan186,030
2BOG-MADBogota – Madrid150,128
3LIM-SCLLima – Santiago145,223
4GRU-SCLSao Paulo Guarulhos – Santiago144,597
5BOG-PTYBogota – Panama City139,581
6EZE-MADBuenos Aires – Madrid124,320
7AEP-SCLBuenos Aires Aeroparque – Santiago122,700
8AEP-GRUBuenos Aires Aeroparque – Sao Paulo Guarulhos120,458
9AEP-GIGBuenos Aires Aeroparque – Rio de Janeiro110,688
10MAD-MEXMadrid – Mexico City109,027
RouteSectorSeats
1CAI-JEDCairo – Jeddah500,295
2CAI-RUHCairo – Riyadh330,184
3CAI-DXBCairo – Dubai188,381
4CAI-MEDCairo – Madinah168,158
5CAI-KWICairo – Kuwait132,492
6ALG-CDGAlgiers – Paris CDG128,406
7CAI-DOHCairo – Doha123,376
8ADD-DXBAddis Ababa – Dubai109,371
9CAI-DMMCairo – Dammam105,925
10CAI-ISTCairo – Istanbul Ataturk98,286
RouteSectorSeats
1CAI-JEDCairo – Jeddah500,295
2CAI-RUHCairo – Riyadh330,184
3DXB-RUHDubai – Riyadh302,284
4DXB-JEDDubai – Jeddah211,186
5BOM-DXBMumbai – Dubai204,872
6DEL-DXBDelhi – Dubai197,342
7CAI-DXBCairo – Dubai188,381
8DXB-LHRDubai – London Heathrow186,120
9LCA-TLVLarnaca – Tel Aviv179,312
10DOH-LHRDoha – London Heathrow169,863

Busiest routes data: September 2026

Static reference tables for the top busiest air routes in September 2026. Data sourced from OAG Schedules Analyser.

Top 10 global domestic routes — September 2026

RouteSectorSeats
1.CJU-GMPJeju – Seoul Gimpo1,084,920
2.CTS-HNDSapporo – Tokyo Haneda1,069,504
3.JED-RUHJeddah – Riyadh965,590
4.FUK-HNDFukuoka – Tokyo Haneda948,498
5.HAN-SGNHanoi – Ho Chi Minh City834,568
6.MEL-SYDMelbourne – Sydney746,076
7.BOM-DELMumbai – Delhi722,005
8.HND-OKATokyo Haneda – Okinawa Naha650,726
9.PEK-SHABeijing – Shanghai Hongqiao608,939
10.SHA-SZXShanghai Hongqiao – Shenzhen603,709

Top 10 global international routes — September 2026

RouteSectorSeats
1.ICN-NRTSeoul Incheon – Tokyo Narita557,881
2.HKG-TPEHong Kong – Taipei528,575
3.CAI-JEDCairo – Jeddah500,295
4.ICN-KIXSeoul Incheon – Osaka Kansai463,863
5.KUL-SINKuala Lumpur – Singapore Changi439,330
6.CGK-SINJakarta – Singapore Changi371,268
7.NRT-TPETokyo Narita – Taipei345,700
8.CAI-RUHCairo – Riyadh330,184
9.JFK-LHRNew York JFK – London Heathrow330,077
10.FUK-ICNFukuoka – Seoul Incheon329,954

Busiest airline routes: frequently asked questions

The world’s busiest airline route in September 2026 is Jeju International (CJU) to Seoul Gimpo (GMP) in South Korea, with 1,084,920 scheduled seats — despite a 16% decline vs September 2025. Sapporo New Chitose to Tokyo Haneda (CTS-HND) is second with 1,069,504 seats (+6%). The busiest international route is Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita (ICN-NRT) with 557,881 seats. Source: OAG Schedules Analyser, September 2026.
Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita (ICN-NRT) is the world’s busiest international airline route in September 2026, with 557,881 seats, up 41% year-on-year. Seven of the top ten international routes are in Asia Pacific. Hong Kong to Taipei (HKG-TPE) ranks second with 528,575 seats, while Cairo to Jeddah (CAI-JED) climbs to third with 500,295 seats (+9%). ICN-NRT posts the strongest growth at +41%. Source: OAG Schedules Analyser, September 2026.
Los Angeles to San Francisco (LAX-SFO) is the busiest domestic route in the USA in September 2026, with 348,098 seats — up 29% vs September 2025, the strongest growth in the top ten. New York La Guardia to Chicago O’Hare (LGA-ORD) is second with 321,426 seats (+8%). Boston to Chicago O’Hare (BOS-ORD) recorded the second-strongest growth at +26%. Source: OAG Schedules Analyser, September 2026.
Beijing to Shanghai Hongqiao (PEK-SHA) is the busiest domestic route in China in September 2026 with 608,939 seats, flat year-on-year vs September 2025. Shanghai Hongqiao to Shenzhen (SHA-SZX) is second with 603,709 seats (+4%), and Guangzhou Baiyun to Shanghai Hongqiao (CAN-SHA) ranks third with 572,670 seats (+20%). Guangzhou Baiyun to Shanghai Hongqiao (CAN-SHA) posted the strongest growth in the top ten at +20%. Source: OAG Schedules Analyser, September 2026.
The busiest air routes are defined as those with the largest volume of scheduled airline seats in the current calendar month. Data covers flights in both directions on each route and is sourced from OAG Schedules Analyser in the first week of each month. The data reflects the most recent full calendar month of scheduled domestic and international aviation routes. From July 2026, Middle East international routes are included in the regional breakdown and global rankings.

View and interrogate OAG’s ever-popular Busiest Airline Routes, including the Top 10 Busiest Global Airline Routes, Top 10 Domestic Airline Routes and International Airline Routes by region. Our flight routes data is powered by Schedules Analyser.

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