Hong Kong, South Korea, United States, Brazil, Japan, India, Australia Lead Global Aviation Growth in 2025, Boosting Tourism Demand Across Key International Routes

Published on December 30, 2025

The global aviation industry saw remarkable milestones in 2025, according to OAG’s annual air travel statistics. From record-breaking global capacity days to the performance of leading airlines and airports, the year marked a period of dynamic growth and expansion in air travel. As the aviation sector continues to rebound from the effects of the pandemic, these statistics provide a clear indication of where the industry is headed in 2026 and beyond.

Record Global Capacity Days and Flight Frequencies

In 2025, the global air travel market saw its busiest day on Friday, 1 August, when a staggering 19,833,642 seats were scheduled across airlines worldwide. This day marked the highest daily capacity of the year and surpassed the busiest day of 2024 by over 555,000 seats. The sheer volume of air traffic on this day underscores the industry’s recovery and the growing demand for air travel worldwide.

Conversely, the quietest day for air travel in 2025 was Tuesday, 28 January, with 15,200,778 seats scheduled globally. This stark contrast highlights the seasonal fluctuations in air travel, with peak periods seeing significant surges in capacity, while quieter months experience a dip in demand.

Top Airlines by Total Seats Operated

The U.S. carriers dominated the global air travel market in 2025, with American Airlines leading the way, operating 279.6 million seats throughout the year. Delta Air Lines followed closely behind with 246.9 million seats, while Southwest Airlines and United Airlines rounded out the top four with 229.2 million and 225.5 million seats, respectively.

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost carrier, completed the top five, operating 213.1 million seats in 2025. The consistent presence of U.S. carriers at the top of these rankings illustrates their enduring dominance in both domestic and international air travel markets.

In terms of flight frequency, American Airlines again topped the list with an impressive 2.3 million flights in 2025. Other major U.S. carriers, including Delta, United, and Southwest, followed closely behind, with Ryanair securing the fifth spot in terms of total flight frequency.

Long-Haul Capacity and Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs)

When examining air travel through the lens of Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs), a key measure of long-haul capacity, United Airlines emerged as the leader with 536.5 billion ASKs in 2025. This metric indicates the distance flown by airlines and the available capacity for passengers, highlighting the continued demand for long-haul travel.

American Airlines and Delta followed closely behind in the rankings, while Emirates secured fourth place, reflecting the airline’s robust long-haul network that connects passengers to far-flung destinations across the globe. The importance of long-haul travel is evident in the high number of ASKs generated by these airlines, showcasing their global reach and extensive route networks.

Airport Growth and Expansion

On the airport side, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) recorded the strongest network expansion in 2025. The airport added 24 new routes, driven by carriers like Cathay Pacific, HK Express, United Airlines, and Hong Kong Airlines. This expansion was supported by significant infrastructure upgrades that allowed HKIA’s three runways to operate concurrently for the first time, significantly increasing its capacity and efficiency.

Furthermore, Hong Kong emerged as the fastest-growing airport by seats year-on-year, underscoring its importance as a major aviation hub in Asia. The growth of HKIA reflects broader trends in global aviation, with many airports focusing on expanding their routes and increasing capacity to meet the growing demand for air travel.

Busiest Routes and Flight Frequency

In 2025, several high-density domestic and international routes operated with remarkable frequency. The CJU–GMP route in South Korea, connecting Jeju Island to Seoul, emerged as the busiest in the world, with 194 daily flights. This was closely followed by major domestic routes in Australia, such as Melbourne–Sydney, as well as high-frequency routes in Japan, India, and Brazil.

In addition to these high-frequency routes, airports in China, Japan, and Brazil saw significant increases in the number of flights on popular domestic routes, reflecting the growing demand for travel within these countries and their key regional hubs.

Fastest-Growing Airlines

While major international carriers continued to dominate global air travel, Clic Air, a smaller airline, stood out in 2025 for its rapid growth. Clic Air, primarily operating in South America, expanded its capacity by 50% in 2025, largely driven by increased flight frequencies on the Bogotá–Medellín route, which now operates up to 10 flights per day. The growth of airlines like Clic Air reflects a broader trend of regional carriers expanding their operations to cater to rising demand in specific markets.

2026 Outlook for Global Aviation

Looking ahead, the aviation industry is poised for steady growth in 2026, despite challenges such as rising fuel costs, labour shortages, and geopolitical uncertainties. As airlines continue to expand their fleets and improve service offerings, air travel demand is expected to remain strong, particularly in emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Airports will also continue to expand and upgrade their infrastructure to accommodate growing passenger numbers. As evidenced by the growth at Hong Kong International Airport, investment in airport capacity will be a key factor in meeting future demand and ensuring the efficiency of global air travel networks.

Additionally, the rise of low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Clic Air will likely continue to drive competition and innovation in the aviation industry, providing more options for travelers and increasing affordability for passengers across the globe.

Conclusion

The aviation statistics for 2025 provide valuable insights into the state of the industry as it heads into 2026. From record global capacity days to the performance of top airlines and airports, the year marked a period of growth and transformation. With airlines continuing to expand their routes and fleets, and airports investing in infrastructure upgrades, the global air travel market is set to continue its upward trajectory in the years to come.

As the industry moves forward, it is clear that demand for air travel will remain strong, particularly for long-haul flights and high-frequency domestic routes. The rise of regional carriers and the expansion of airport networks will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of global aviation.