The World's Aviation Superhighways
Some routes are so popular that aircraft depart every few minutes. These aviation superhighways connect major economic centers, tourist destinations, and transportation hubs, carrying tens of millions of passengers annually.
Top 15 Busiest Routes by Passenger Count (2026)
1. Seoul Gimpo (GMP) to Jeju (CJU) - South Korea
Annual Passengers: ~17 million
Distance: 281 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour
Average Daily Flights: 200+
The world's busiest route connects South Korea's capital to its tropical island paradise. With flights every 10-15 minutes during peak hours, this domestic route sees more passengers than any other in the world. Jeju Island's beaches and volcanic landscapes make it Korea's top vacation destination.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
2. Melbourne (MEL) to Sydney (SYD) - Australia
Annual Passengers: ~9 million
Distance: 439 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour 30 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 70+
Australia's busiest route connects its two largest cities. Business travelers dominate weekday flights while leisure passengers fill weekend services.
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3. Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Sapporo (CTS) - Japan
Annual Passengers: ~8.5 million
Distance: 510 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour 40 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 50+
Connecting Tokyo to Hokkaido's capital, this route is particularly popular during ski season and summer months.
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4. Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Fukuoka (FUK) - Japan
Annual Passengers: ~7.8 million
Distance: 567 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour 50 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 45+
This route connects Tokyo to Kyushu's largest city, serving both business and leisure travelers.
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5. Mumbai (BOM) to Delhi (DEL) - India
Annual Passengers: ~7.5 million
Distance: 708 miles
Flight Time: ~2 hours 10 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 60+
India's busiest route connects its financial capital to its political capital.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
6. Sao Paulo Congonhas (CGH) to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU) - Brazil
Annual Passengers: ~7.2 million
Distance: 214 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour
Average Daily Flights: 50+
The "Air Bridge" between Brazil's two largest cities uses downtown airports for maximum convenience.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
7. Beijing (PEK) to Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) - China
Annual Passengers: ~7 million
Distance: 664 miles
Flight Time: ~2 hours
Average Daily Flights: 50+
Connecting China's political and financial capitals, though high-speed rail has reduced demand.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
8. Hanoi (HAN) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) - Vietnam
Annual Passengers: ~6.8 million
Distance: 726 miles
Flight Time: ~2 hours 10 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 40+
Vietnam's busiest domestic route connects its capital to its largest city.
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9. Jakarta (CGK) to Surabaya (SUB) - Indonesia
Annual Passengers: ~6.5 million
Distance: 435 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour 30 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 45+
Indonesia's most trafficked route serves the country's two largest urban areas.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
10. Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Okinawa (OKA) - Japan
Annual Passengers: ~6.3 million
Distance: 984 miles
Flight Time: ~2 hours 40 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 35+
Beach-bound tourists dominate this route to Japan's tropical islands.
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11. Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE)
Annual Passengers: ~6.2 million
Distance: 502 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour 50 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 40+
A crucial business and leisure route connecting two major Asian financial centers.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
12. Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO) - USA
Annual Passengers: ~6 million
Distance: 337 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour 20 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 40+
California's busiest route connects its two largest metro areas, though many now prefer the train.
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13. New York (LGA) to Chicago (ORD) - USA
Annual Passengers: ~5.8 million
Distance: 733 miles
Flight Time: ~2 hours 20 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 35+
One of America's most important business routes.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
14. London Heathrow (LHR) to Edinburgh (EDI) - UK
Annual Passengers: ~5.5 million
Distance: 332 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour 20 minutes
Average Daily Flights: 30+
The UK's busiest domestic route connects England and Scotland.
📥 Download route data (CSV) | 🗺️ Track this route in the app
15. Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore (SIN)
Annual Passengers: ~5.3 million
Distance: 190 miles
Flight Time: ~1 hour
Average Daily Flights: 35+
One of the world's shortest international routes is also one of its busiest.
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The 15 Busiest flight routes in one map
📥 Download all routes data (CSV) | 🗺️ View all routes on map
Why These Routes Are So Popular
- Economic Centers: Business travel drives many of these routes
- Geographic Barriers: Mountains, water or distance make flying the best option
- Tourism: Popular vacation destinations generate high leisure traffic
- Limited Alternatives: Insufficient rail or road connections
- Hub Connectivity: Routes feeding major international hubs
Interesting Patterns
- Asia dominates the list with 10 of the top 15 routes
- Most routes are under 750 miles (1,200 km)
- Domestic routes are more common than international
- Island destinations (Jeju, Okinawa, Hokkaido) feature prominently
- High-speed rail has reduced traffic on some historically busy routes
Track Your Frequent Routes
Do you regularly fly any of these busy routes? Add them to My Flight Routes to track how many times you've traveled these popular corridors and see how your journeys compare to millions of other passengers.