AviationAsia Pacific claims the majority of the top 10 global international and domestic routes.

The world's busiest airports and air routes in 2023

By Travel Weekly Asia

|

Dec 26, 2023

|

Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi emerges as the world's busiest global international route.

Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi emerges as the world's busiest global international route. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/ronniechua

In a world reliant on air travel for global connections and economic exchanges, insights into the busiest airports and air routes play a pivotal role in understanding travel patterns. OAG, a travel data platform, has revealed its thorough analysis of the world's busiest airports and routes in 2023, offering a glimpse into global aviation trends.

Top 10 busiest global routes

Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore Changi (SIN)
Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED)
Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE)
London Heathrow (LHR) to New York (JFK)
Dubai (DXB) to London Heathrow (LHR)
Lisbon (LIS) to Madrid (MAD)
Beijing (PEK) to Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA)
Hanoi (HAN) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
Melbourne (MEL) to Sydney (SYD)
Mumbai (BOM) to Delhi (DEL)

Top 10 busiest global airports of 2023

ATL: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Intl Airport
DXB: Dubai International Airport
HND: Tokyo International (Haneda) Airport
LHR: London Heathrow Airport
DFW: Dallas Fort Worth Intl Airport
DEN: Denver International Airport
IST: Istanbul Airport
LAX: Los Angeles International Airport
ORD: Chicago O'Hare International Airport
CAN: Guangzhou (CN) Airport

Top 10 busiest international airports of 2023

DXB: Dubai International Airport
LHR: London Heathrow Airport
AMS: Amsterdam Airport
CDG: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
SIN: Singapore Changi Airport
IST: Istanbul Airport
ICN: Seoul Incheon International Airport
FRA: Frankfurt International Airport
DOH: Doha (QA) Airport
MAD: Madrid Adolfo Suarez-Barajas Airport

Top 10 busiest airports in Europe

LHR: London Heathrow Airport
IST: Istanbul Airport
CDG: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
FRA: Frankfurt International Airport
AMS: Amsterdam Airport
MAD: Madrid Adolfo Suarez-Barajas Airport
BCN: Barcelona Airport (ES)
FCO: Rome Fiumicino Airport
LGW: London Gatwick Airport
MUC: Munich International Airport

Busiest airports by region

Asia Pacific (2023): Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND)

Europe, Middle East & Africa (2023): Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Latin America (2023): Mexico City Juarez International (MEX)

North America (2023): Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International (ATL)

Related NewsPrevious Next Previous Next

Middle East tensions trigger fresh flight cancellations across global airline networks.

Middle East tensions ground flights worldwide againDubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha remain open, but airlines continue to suspend, reroute and trim services across the region.

Thai Airways' newer “Premium Economy Plus” cabin with 31 lie-flat seats.

The new battleground at 35,000 feet in the skiesPremium economy has become the cabin where airlines compete hardest for today’s traveller.

The carrier reveals its next-generation business premier suites.

Air New Zealand unveils refreshed Boeing 777 cabin designsA refreshed long-haul experience is on the way, with the first retrofitted plane in service by May 2027.

Changi Airport identifies new destinations including Hai Phong, Lucknow and Tashkent.

Changi Airport targets missing cities from Singapore’s route mapMore direct connections planned across Asia before Terminal 5 opens in the mid 2030s.

This facility streamlines remote flight boarding by providing sheltered access between buses and aircraft via aerobridges.

What exactly is Changi Airport's new satellite gate?The first satellite gate will be used for selected remote flights from August 2026.

According to eyewitnesses, a passenger's head and shoulders were pulled through a detached window before nearby passengers rescued him.

Window failure on Boeing flight nearly ejects passengerA passenger was almost ‘sucked out’ through a window mid-flight before fellow travellers rescued him.

AirBorneo plans to grow its fleet to 17 aircraft by the end of 2030.

AirBorneo eyes launch of Kuching-Singapore flights after KL debutSarawak's state-owned airline plans to begin daily Singapore services by end-July as it maps out regional expansion plans.

Oman Air celebrated its inaugural Muscat to Singapore flight on 2 July 2026.

Oman Air launches direct Muscat–Singapore flightsThe four-times-weekly service marks the airline's return to Singapore after nine years.

VietJet is believed to be looking at launching domestic services in Australia.

Vietnam’s low-cost carrier eyes Australian domestic marketSpeculation grows about VietJet’s move to compete with Qantas and Virgin Australia.

The alcohol-free airline plans to connect more than 100 global destinations from Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh Air chooses Kuala Lumpur for first flight into AsiaFlights to launch 30 July as new airline builds its network.

Emirates' new lounge at Munich Airport.

What’s cooking at Emirates? A new lounge conceptDedicated bread ovens, live cooking stations to roll out across the globe.

Indonesian visitor arrivals by air at Changi have fallen 14%.

Indonesia AirAsia cuts its only direct connection to ChangiHigh fees among reasons cited for dropping non-stop Singapore-Jakarta flights.

Travellers enrolled in any Star Alliance member airlines’ frequent flyer programme may continue to earn miles on Asiana Airlines-operated flights departing on or before 15 October 2026.

Asiana Airlines says goodbye to Star AllianceThe Seoul-based carrier will formally leave the alliance on 16 December 16 2026.

The airlines currently codeshare on services across Malaysia, Singapore, Europe, and South Africa.

Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines deepen ties with joint fare productsNext up: reciprocal lounge access, coordinated flight schedules, and joint corporate travel arrangements.

As of mid-June, authorities say the airport is more than 76% completed.

Vietnam deploys army to complete mega airport by end 2026180-day campaign now underway to ensure that Long Thanh International Airport near Ho Chi Minh City can open in time.

Complimentary medical travel insurance, with every qualifying Etihad ticket.

Middle East airlines roll out new conflict insuranceFlying Into the UAE? Emirates and Etihad introduce insurance benefits and traveller safeguards following recent regional...

Skytrain operations within the airside will not be affected.

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport ends Skytrain serviceLandside transfers between Terminals 1 and 2 to cease in July.

Scoot turns two aircraft into flying movie experiences across Asia-Pacific.

Spider-Man swings into the skies with ScootThemed aircraft and onboard experiences debut on selected regional and long-haul routes until September.

Project Sunrise will eventually connect Australia’s east coast with other international destinations, with Sydney-New York confirmed as the next service to follow Sydney-London.

Launch date announced for Qantas' Sydney-London routeFrom October 2027, the iconic Kangaroo Route between the two cities will be flown nonstop for the first time.

The new SilverKris lounge is 30% larger than the current lounge at Melbourne airport.

Sneak peek at new SilverKris Melbourne lounge‘Home Away from Home’ design will be familiar to SQ premium fliers.

Middle East tensions trigger fresh flight cancellations across global airline networks.

Middle East tensions ground flights worldwide againDubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha remain open, but airlines continue to suspend, reroute and trim services across the region.

Thai Airways' newer “Premium Economy Plus” cabin with 31 lie-flat seats.

The new battleground at 35,000 feet in the skiesPremium economy has become the cabin where airlines compete hardest for today’s traveller.

The carrier reveals its next-generation business premier suites.

Air New Zealand unveils refreshed Boeing 777 cabin designsA refreshed long-haul experience is on the way, with the first retrofitted plane in service by May 2027.

Changi Airport identifies new destinations including Hai Phong, Lucknow and Tashkent.

Changi Airport targets missing cities from Singapore’s route mapMore direct connections planned across Asia before Terminal 5 opens in the mid 2030s.

This facility streamlines remote flight boarding by providing sheltered access between buses and aircraft via aerobridges.

What exactly is Changi Airport's new satellite gate?The first satellite gate will be used for selected remote flights from August 2026.

According to eyewitnesses, a passenger's head and shoulders were pulled through a detached window before nearby passengers rescued him.

Window failure on Boeing flight nearly ejects passengerA passenger was almost ‘sucked out’ through a window mid-flight before fellow travellers rescued him.

AirBorneo plans to grow its fleet to 17 aircraft by the end of 2030.

AirBorneo eyes launch of Kuching-Singapore flights after KL debutSarawak's state-owned airline plans to begin daily Singapore services by end-July as it maps out regional expansion plans.

Oman Air celebrated its inaugural Muscat to Singapore flight on 2 July 2026.

Oman Air launches direct Muscat–Singapore flightsThe four-times-weekly service marks the airline's return to Singapore after nine years.

VietJet is believed to be looking at launching domestic services in Australia.

Vietnam’s low-cost carrier eyes Australian domestic marketSpeculation grows about VietJet’s move to compete with Qantas and Virgin Australia.

The alcohol-free airline plans to connect more than 100 global destinations from Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh Air chooses Kuala Lumpur for first flight into AsiaFlights to launch 30 July as new airline builds its network.

Emirates' new lounge at Munich Airport.

What’s cooking at Emirates? A new lounge conceptDedicated bread ovens, live cooking stations to roll out across the globe.

Indonesian visitor arrivals by air at Changi have fallen 14%.

Indonesia AirAsia cuts its only direct connection to ChangiHigh fees among reasons cited for dropping non-stop Singapore-Jakarta flights.

Travellers enrolled in any Star Alliance member airlines’ frequent flyer programme may continue to earn miles on Asiana Airlines-operated flights departing on or before 15 October 2026.

Asiana Airlines says goodbye to Star AllianceThe Seoul-based carrier will formally leave the alliance on 16 December 16 2026.

The airlines currently codeshare on services across Malaysia, Singapore, Europe, and South Africa.

Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines deepen ties with joint fare productsNext up: reciprocal lounge access, coordinated flight schedules, and joint corporate travel arrangements.

As of mid-June, authorities say the airport is more than 76% completed.

Vietnam deploys army to complete mega airport by end 2026180-day campaign now underway to ensure that Long Thanh International Airport near Ho Chi Minh City can open in time.

Complimentary medical travel insurance, with every qualifying Etihad ticket.

Middle East airlines roll out new conflict insuranceFlying Into the UAE? Emirates and Etihad introduce insurance benefits and traveller safeguards following recent regional...

Skytrain operations within the airside will not be affected.

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport ends Skytrain serviceLandside transfers between Terminals 1 and 2 to cease in July.

Scoot turns two aircraft into flying movie experiences across Asia-Pacific.

Spider-Man swings into the skies with ScootThemed aircraft and onboard experiences debut on selected regional and long-haul routes until September.

Project Sunrise will eventually connect Australia’s east coast with other international destinations, with Sydney-New York confirmed as the next service to follow Sydney-London.

Launch date announced for Qantas' Sydney-London routeFrom October 2027, the iconic Kangaroo Route between the two cities will be flown nonstop for the first time.

The new SilverKris lounge is 30% larger than the current lounge at Melbourne airport.

Sneak peek at new SilverKris Melbourne lounge‘Home Away from Home’ design will be familiar to SQ premium fliers.

MagazinesPrevious Next

April - June 2026

April - June 2026Forward in Flux

January - March 2026

January - March 2026A New Season in Bloom

In the Spotlight

Ascott’s ‘multi-typology’ portfolio unleashes next-generation hospitality concepts that cater to diverse and evolving travel preferences. Pictured: Somerset Pattaya

Work trip or holiday? Make it both.

Dream Cruises, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026, has rolled out a year-long programme of live entertainment, culinary experiences, wellness activities and family-friendly events.

A cruise, a concert, a celebrity chef: A sea of adventure awaits!

Verandah Pool Bar & Grill, perched on level 7 of Momentus Hotel Alexandra, pairs drinks with views.

This Singapore hotel is levelling up corporate events

Aiden Surawong Bangkok signals a new generation of hotels for smart, savvy, and well-informed travellers who crave complete convenience without sacrificing their sense of style.

The new generation of hotels unlocking Asia’s coolest spots