Asia-Pacific Dominates Global Aviation Rankings with Jeju–Seoul and Other Short-Haul Routes

Published on December 26, 2025

The Jeju–Seoul flight route in South Korea has once again secured a place among the busiest air routes globally, highlighting the continuing trend of high-frequency, short-haul travel within the Asia-Pacific region. In 2025, this popular 450-kilometre route saw a total of 14.4 million seats offered, marking a 1% increase from the previous year. The frequency of flights on this route remains unparalleled, with nearly 39,000 seats available each day. This makes the Jeju–Seoul corridor one of the most intensively served air links in the world.

Jeju-Seoul: A Vital Link for South Korea’s Tourism

The dominance of this route is not surprising, given the strategic role Jeju Island plays as South Korea’s primary leisure destination. The island is largely dependent on air travel, with flights between Jeju and Seoul being a crucial connection for both leisure and business travel. Seven airlines currently operate on this route, underscoring its commercial importance. Despite its success, the Jeju-Seoul route still operates 17% below pre-pandemic levels, reflecting the uneven pace of aviation recovery worldwide, even on strong domestic markets.

Asia-Pacific Leads the Way in Short-Haul Travel

In 2025, the Asia-Pacific region once again accounted for nine out of the ten busiest air routes worldwide, demonstrating the region’s dominance in short-haul aviation. The Jeju–Seoul route topped this list, with other Japanese domestic flights following closely behind. Sapporo–Tokyo and Fukuoka–Tokyo secured the second and third spots, respectively, showcasing Japan’s continued reliance on air travel to connect distant regions to the capital, despite the presence of an extensive high-speed rail network.

The Asia-Pacific region’s heavy reliance on short-haul flights is largely due to factors such as dense populations, limited land connections between major cities, and robust domestic tourism markets. Even as sustainability concerns rise and alternative transport options become more widely discussed, high-frequency air travel remains essential for the region’s transportation infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia and Australia: Key International Routes

Notably, Saudi Arabia also made its mark on the list with the Jeddah–Riyadh route, which ranked fifth overall. This domestic Saudi Arabian route has experienced rapid growth, driven by surging domestic travel demand and the kingdom’s expanding tourism and economic initiatives. The Jeddah–Riyadh route is now the fastest-growing among the top ten, reflecting the broader economic transformation occurring in the country.

Meanwhile, Australia continues to see significant air travel demand, with the high-traffic Melbourne–Sydney route claiming sixth place. Known for its competitive nature, the Melbourne–Sydney corridor is often seen as a bellwether for both business and leisure travel in the region. The route’s continued success underscores the resilience of business travel, coupled with the resurgence of leisure demand following the pandemic.

Global Trends: The Focus on Short-Haul Travel

OAG’s analysis of the busiest air routes highlights the structural differences in travel demand between regions. Short-haul, high-density routes remain the backbone of global air travel, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. This is in part due to the region’s unique geographical makeup, which requires efficient air connectivity between cities that are otherwise distant by land.

In addition to domestic routes, OAG’s analysis also pointed to the heavy demand for international flights within the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong–Taipei was identified as the world’s busiest international air route, with 6.8 million seats offered in 2025. Other major international routes, such as Cairo–Jeddah and Kuala Lumpur–Singapore, also ranked highly, reflecting strong regional and economic travel flows.

Asia-Pacific’s Resilient Aviation Market

The Asia-Pacific region’s continued dominance in short-haul air travel underlines the resilience of its aviation market. Despite global challenges, such as the pandemic and the rise of alternative modes of transport, aviation in this region has continued to thrive. The dense population, vast domestic tourism markets, and reliance on air travel for business and leisure connections have helped Asia-Pacific maintain its leading position in global aviation.

OAG’s 2025 rankings illustrate where the world’s travel demand has rebounded most strongly. For airlines and airports, the message is clear: short-haul, high-density routes remain crucial to global air travel recovery, and Asia-Pacific continues to lead the way. While long-haul international travel is regaining ground, the dominance of regional, short-haul routes serves as a reminder of how essential these connections are to the world’s most dynamic travel markets.

Busiest Air Routes in 2025 by Seat Capacity (According to OAG)

The following are the top ten busiest air routes globally by total seat capacity in 2025:

1. Jeju–Seoul, South Korea: 14,384,766 seats
2. Sapporo–Tokyo, Japan: 12,099,499 seats
3. Fukuoka–Tokyo, Japan: 11,496,706 seats
4. Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: 11,078,775 seats
5. Jeddah–Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 9,819,558 seats
6. Melbourne–Sydney, Australia: 8,951,497 seats
7. Tokyo–Okinawa, Japan: 8,052,864 seats
8. Mumbai–Delhi, India: 7,642,016 seats
9. Beijing–Shanghai, China: 7,454,950 seats
10. Shanghai–Shenzhen, China: 7,138,673 seats

These rankings provide valuable insights into the recovery of global aviation and where airlines are focusing their resources as demand returns.

Conclusion: A Continued Focus on Asia-Pacific Aviation

As global aviation recovers, the trends highlighted by OAG’s 2025 rankings reinforce the importance of Asia-Pacific as a critical hub for short-haul and high-frequency travel. The success of the Jeju–Seoul route is a prime example of how well-established domestic markets are leading the way in aviation recovery. Whether through business or leisure, air travel in the Asia-Pacific remains indispensable for connecting people, businesses, and cultures across the region.