Ranked: Top 10 Busiest International Airline Routes In August 2025

For frequent flyers, be it for work or tourism, some skies are busier than others. According to the latest data released by travel intelligence company OAG, the world's busiest international air routes in August 2025 are once again led by Asia Pacific, which continues to dominate global travel patterns. At the very top of the list is the Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE) connection, which maintains its stronghold as the busiest international route worldwide. With 581,751 airline seats available in both directions this month, the route matches last year's numbers, highlighting its consistent popularity.

Coming in second is Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore Changi (SIN) with 462,125 seats, although this marks a slight 3 per cent dip compared to August 2024. Close behind is Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED), which secures the third position with 461,210 seats, underlining the strong demand between Africa and the Middle East.

One of the most striking growth stories comes from the Osaka Kansai (KIX) to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) route. Now ranked sixth globally, it saw a staggering 57 per cent year-on-year increase, adding over 140,000 additional seats compared to last year. Similarly, Jakarta (CGK) to Singapore Changi (SIN) registered a healthy 12 per cent increase in capacity, placing it seventh on the list.

However, not all routes experienced growth. The Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) connection, currently the fourth busiest worldwide, recorded the sharpest decline in capacity among the top 10, with seats dropping 8 per cent year-on-year.

Asia Pacific Leads the Way In International Travel Routes

The rankings make it clear: 7 out of the 10 busiest international routes are in the Asia Pacific region. Major airports, including Seoul Incheon, Hong Kong, Singapore Changi, and Osaka Kansai, appear more than once on the list, underlining their significance as regional and global travel hubs.

Beyond Asia, only three routes managed to break into the global top 10 this month: Dubai (DXB) to Riyadh (RUH) in the Middle East, New York JFK (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR) connecting North America to Europe, and Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED) linking Africa to the Middle East.

Here Are The Top 10 Busiest International Routes In August 2025:

1. Hong Kong - Taipei (581,751 seats)
2. Kuala Lumpur - Singapore Changi (462,125 seats)
3. Cairo - Jeddah (461,210 seats)
4. Seoul Incheon - Tokyo Narita (437,652 seats)
5. Seoul Incheon - Osaka Kansai (405,234 seats)
6. Osaka Kansai - Shanghai Pudong (387,478 seats)
7. Jakarta - Singapore Changi (384,142 seats)
8. Dubai - Riyadh (374,226 seats)
9. New York JFK - London Heathrow (365,024 seats)
10. Bangkok - Hong Kong (358,525 seats)

As international travel continues to surge, these rankings highlight how demand patterns are shaping global connectivity and which routes turned out to be the busiest when navigating airports in August this year.