Last year, the Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore Changi (SIN) flight route claimed the title of the busiest international airline route.
However, the latest report from OAG reveals that the route has slipped to fourth place in 2024.
According to Malay Mail, the once-dominant KUL-SIN route experienced a drop in ranking despite maintaining a strong passenger count.
With 5.4 million seats recorded this year, the route experienced a modest decline from its leading position in 2023.
However, there’s still good news—it recorded a 10% increase in capacity compared to the previous year and is now only 3% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
New Leader: Hong Kong to Taipei Soars to the Top
Taking the crown for 2024 is the Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE) route, which surged to an impressive 6.8 million seats.
This marks a 48% increase from last year, showcasing a remarkable recovery post-pandemic.
While still 15% below its 2019 capacity, this route’s resurgence highlights its importance in the Asia-Pacific region.
Interestingly, the HKG-TPE route had been in third place last year but had previously dominated the charts in 2019.
Its return to the top underscores its enduring popularity and strategic significance.
Other Contenders in the Top Three
The second and third spots on the list were claimed by Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED) with 5.5 million seats and Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) with 5.4 million seats, respectively.
These routes continue to demonstrate strong demand and play a critical role in connecting key international hubs.
New Entrants & Asia-Pacific’s Continued Dominance
The Bangkok (BKK) to Hong Kong (HKG) route made an impressive entry into the Top 10, landing in seventh place with 4.2 million seats.
This represents a significant 29% increase from 2023, though it remains 13% short of 2019 levels.
OAG’s report highlights that seven out of the Top 10 busiest international routes are based in Asia, reflecting the region’s rapid recovery from the pandemic.
Other routes in the Top 10 include New York JFK to London Heathrow and Dubai to Riyadh, representing Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Although KUL-SIN has lost its number-one spot, its strong performance signals that it remains a vital link for travellers.
With air travel steadily returning to pre-pandemic levels, it’s only a matter of time before we see further changes in this competitive landscape.
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