These Are The World's 5 Busiest Country Pairs For International Flights

These Are The World’s 5 Busiest Country Pairs For International Flights

• Four markets, including India–United Arab Emirates, Spain – United Kingdom, Japan – South Korea, and Canada – United States are some of the busiest country pairs in February 2024.
• The Mexico-United States market is the busiest overall, with 4.2 million seats available and 15 airlines serving the route.
• However, data showed that markets involving China have grown the most Year-on-Year (YoY).

The travel data company has published its busiest country pair list, showcasing the most connected nations in terms of seats in February 2024. Surprisingly or not, the top five list includes relatively short flights, with many of the countries being de facto neighbors or separated by a small body of water.

While no Chinese markets have made the top five list, OAG highlighted that the top four country pairs in terms of highest percentage growth compared to February 2023 include China. Japan – China, South Korea – China, Thailand – China, and Hong Kong – China have grown by 895%, 649%, 443%, and 120%, respectively.

The company added that the top 20 country pair markets have been growing Year-on-Year (YoY). However, OAG highlighted that the United Kingdom – United States market, which has increased 2.4% YoY, would be declining if it was not for a leap year this February.

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India – United Arab Emirates

Seats in February 2024: 1.9 million

Airlines serving flights between the countries:

• Air India Express
• IndiGo
• Emirates
• Etihad Airways
• Air Arabia (including Air Arabia Abu Dhabi)
• Air India
• SpiceJet
• flydubai
• Vistara

Overall, ten airlines operate routes between India and the United Arab Emirates, which includes two Air Arabia airlines: the original carrier and the Abu Dhabi-based subsidiary, according to data by the aviation analytics company Cirium.

According to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Stat, the statistics portal of the country, there were 9.2 million residents in the UAE in 2020, 6.4 million of which were males. Out of the 9.2 million, around 3.5 million are Indian nationals.

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Japan – South Korea

Seats in February 2024: 2.1 million

Airlines serving flights between the countries:

• Korean Air
• Jeju Air
• Asiana Airlines
• T’Way Air
• Jin Air
• Air Busan
• Air Seoul
• Eastar Jet
• Peach
• Japan Airlines
• Aero K
• All Nippon Airways (ANA)
• ZIPAIR
• Air Premia
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Air Japan

Another country pair based in Asia is the huge market between Japan and South Korea, with 16 airlines operating flights between the two countries that are separated by the Sea of Japan. While neither country has a huge diaspora of nationals, like that of Indians in the UAE, South Korea has been a popular destination for Japanese people.

However, over the past few years, the two countries have had trade disputes, which resulted in a decrease in traffic. For example, in 2019, Korean Air’s presentation of its financial results showed that while passenger traffic to Japan grew in 2017 and 2018, in 2019, it dropped by 15%.

Nevertheless, out of the 5,028 one-way flights between the two countries, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have scheduled 1,528 flights, with the two airlines merging into one. Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) approved the merger in January, yet the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to do so.

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Spain – United Kingdom

Seats in February 2024: 2.8 million

Airlines serving flights between the countries:

• Ryanair (including Ryanair UK)
• easyJet
• Jet2
• British Airways
• Vueling
• TUI Airways
• Iberia
• Iberia Express
• Air Europa
• Wizz Air UK
• Smartwings

Another popular tourist destination, the British sure do love the Spanish sun. So much so that over 280,000 British citizens reside in Spain, according to Statista. Meanwhile, data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute showed that 17.3 million UK residents visited the country as tourists in 2023, with the numbers growing significantly compared to 2022.

Nevertheless, the routes between the two countries are being served by 11 airlines in February. The majority of them are low-cost carriers, including Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, and Wizz Air UK, as well as charter operators, such as Jet2, TUI, and Smartwings.

The aviation connections between these two countries also run deep since both countries’ de facto flag carriers, British Airways and Iberia, belong to the International Airlines Group (IAG), which is based in Spain. IAG is also eyeing an acquisition of Air Europa, yet the European Commission (EC) is currently investigating that deal.

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Canada – United States

Seats in February 2024: 2.9 million

Airlines serving flights between the countries:

• Air Canada
• WestJet
• United Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• American Airlines
• Porter Airlines
• Flair Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Air Transat
• Lynx Air
• JetBlue
• Kenmore Air
• Harbour Air
• Sunwing Airlines

The first two entries on the list to have the United States as one of the countries, the US – Canada market is one of the busiest international country pairs in the world. While plenty of airlines serve routes between the two, one thing to note about the pair is that no twin-aisle flights are scheduled to operate from the US to Canada.

Get all the latest aviation news for North America here.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of exciting aircraft and airlines flying northward or southward, such as Harbour Air or Kenmore Air, operating flights with the Cessna 208 Caravan. The former, a seaplane operator, has also been exploring the electrification of its fleet with the eBeaver, a converted De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver.

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Mexico – United States

Seats in February 2024: 4.2 million

Airlines serving flights between the countries:

• American Airlines
• United Airlines
• Volaris
• Delta Air Lines
• Aeromexico
• Alaska Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Viva Aerobus
• JetBlue
• Frontier Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• Aero
• Avelo Airlines
• Sunwing Airlines

Lastly, the busiest country pair in terms of seats is the Mexico – United States market, which is served by 15 airlines from both countries. Of the top five airlines serving routes between the two, three are based in the US.

However, the US and Mexico have had a disagreement, especially once the latter’s government tried to force operations to move to Mexico City Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), which replaced the city’s International Airport (MEX).

The Department of Transportation (DOT) deemed that the Mexican government violated the two nation’s air transport agreement on January 26. Retaliating against the government, the DOT moved to dismiss the antitrust immunity of the Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico joint venture, essentially terminating the two airlines’ agreement.

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