Quantcast

UK sees rise in busiest international passenger routes in 2024

Tycoon unveils £25 billion rival Heathrow expansion plan
Boeing and Airbus ground green plane projects
Proposals for commercial planes to operate with one pilot shelved after critical EU report
Air Travel Fatalities Up 300% in 2024, According to Shocking Global Report
Aviation sector faces steeper losses in FY26; passenger growth slows amid headwinds: ICRA - The Times of India
Boeing Halts Strike Talks Amid $36 Billion Deal & Union Dispute
FAA’s Broader Runway Safety Push Builds on EMAS Legacy
Ryanair CEO says aviation sustainability targets are 'dying a death'
US FAA funds system to prevent accidents involving runaway airplanes
Exclusive: Korean Air makes airline's biggest-ever Boeing jet order amid Trump-Lee summit
Boeing Stock Jumps on Massive Korean Air Order
FAA EMAS: Proven Safety Wins Since 1996
Air Canada flight attendants try to build on US gains on unpaid work
Cathay Pacific warns of declining fares and cargo uncertainty, shares fall
Clear intentions, cloudy path: aviation's ongoing ESG challenge
Turkish Airlines is preparing binding offer for Spain's Air Europa, executive says
Air Canada flight attendants approve strike mandate
US criticizes use of AI to personalize airline ticket prices, would investigate
Ethiopian Airlines' annual revenue rises as it draws more passengers, adds routes
Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
JetBlue, United partnership gets go-ahead from U.S. Transportation Department
United-JetBlue partnership gets US DOT approval
The aviation industry just got exactly what it wanted from Trump's EU deal
Air India Warned Over Crew Fatigue and Training Failures Following Fatal Crash
Heathrow Chief Defends £50–60 billion Third Runway Amid Rising Costs Debate
New UK airline with cheap US fares is ‘parked’ after just TWO flights – with people fearing it’s been scrapped for good
US carriers shamed in surprising new list of the world’s ‘cleanest’ airlines
Air Force Pilot Wasn't Alerted to Collision Course with Passenger Jet Before Scary Near Miss, Says Official
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy may deny flights from Mexico over broken aviation agreement
Plane Makes Emergency Landing After ‘Unruly’ Passenger Attempts to Open Exit Door Mid-Flight
UK sees rise in busiest international passenger routes in 2024
Policy
Webp received 1527801221469832
Sir Stephen Hillier Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority | UK Civil Aviation Authority

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has reported an increase in international passenger traffic, with 256 million passengers in 2024, amounting to over 700,000 daily. This represents an 8% rise from 2023 and slightly surpasses the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 by 0.3%. Analyzing the busiest routes, the UK boasted 30 international markets with over one million passengers each, with the route between London Heathrow and New York JFK leading the list.

"All figures are two-way at the airport level, not the city level," noted the report. The data includes all types of passengers, such as those flying directly between two airports and those connecting through them.

In 2024, notable additions to the list from 2023 were Heathrow-Abu Dhabi, Manchester-Amsterdam, and Heathrow-Miami. Collectively, these 30 markets accounted for 41.6 million passengers, equivalent to one in six international passengers in the UK. London Heathrow featured prominently in 24 of the top 30 routes and all of the top 10 due to the inclusion of connecting passengers in the calculations.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Specifically, the Heathrow-JFK route had over four million available round-trip seats from airlines like American, British Airways, Delta, JetBlue, and Virgin Atlantic. These airlines carried 3.2 million passengers, achieving an 80% load factor across the year.

On the Heathrow-Doha route, traffic exceeded two million passengers for the first time, with Qatar Airways and British Airways operating up to 11 daily flights. This route saw a 17% increase from 2023, and 80% of passengers connected onward from Doha, with India, Pakistan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand emerging as key onward markets.

Meanwhile, Heathrow-Dublin was identified as the busiest short-haul route, carrying 1.9 million passengers. Heathrow captured about 53% of the larger London-Dublin market, influenced by a significant portion of passengers connecting through these hubs to other destinations.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Alaska Airlines has announced a significant expansion of its route network for 2026, with plans to introduce service to two new cities and launch 13 new or returning routes.

Oct 25, 2025

Delta Air Lines will introduce new in-flight menu options created by celebrity chef José Andrés starting November 4.

Oct 25, 2025

The Blue Sky partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue launched today, allowing members of both airlines’ loyalty programs to earn and redeem points across the two carriers.

Oct 25, 2025

Air Canada is set to expand its presence at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) by introducing four new nonstop routes to the United States in 2026.

Oct 25, 2025

United Airlines has announced it will add 10 new destinations from its Chicago O'Hare International Airport hub starting next year.

Oct 25, 2025

The partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue, known as Blue Sky, has officially launched.

Oct 25, 2025