New global aviation data has confirmed the Asia-Pacific region's overwhelming dominance in the world's air traffic, accounting for a staggering nine out of the ten busiest flight routes in 2025.
Domestic Routes Lead Global Traffic
According to the latest analysis from global airline data specialist OAG, all of the top ten busiest routes for the year are domestic connections. The crown for the world's most trafficked air corridor goes to South Korea, with the Jeju to Seoul Gimpo route securing first place. This highly competitive link, served by seven different carriers, offered a massive 14.4 million scheduled seats in 2025.
Japan captured the next two spots on the prestigious list. The connection between Sapporo New Chitose and Tokyo Haneda took second place with 12.1 million seats, closely followed by the Fukuoka to Tokyo Haneda route in third.
Australia's Key Corridor Makes the Cut
Australia's premier domestic connection, the bustling Melbourne to Sydney route, earned its place as the sixth busiest service globally. The link accounted for just under nine million scheduled seats, underscoring its critical role in the nation's transport network.
In Southeast Asia, Vietnam's primary air bridge between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City claimed fourth position. More than 11 million seats were available on this route, which is operated by six airlines. Competition has driven airfares down, with the average one-way ticket costing $100.40, representing an 11 per cent year-on-year decrease.
Rapid Growth on Key International Links
The only route in the top ten not located within the Asia-Pacific region was the Middle Eastern connection from Jeddah to Riyadh, which placed fifth. This route experienced the fastest growth of any in the ranking, with seat numbers surging by 13 per cent year-on-year to reach 9.8 million in 2025.
When examining cross-border international traffic, the Hong Kong to Taipei route emerged as the busiest, with 6.5 million seats. It was followed by Cairo to Jeddah (5.8 million seats) and Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi (5.6 million seats). The data further solidifies Asia's commanding position, with seven of the top ten international routes located within the region.
This comprehensive data from OAG highlights a clear and continued shift in global aviation dynamics, with intra-Asia-Pacific travel demand fuelling the world's most frequented skies.
