US and Canada storms into list of World’s busiest air routes
Asia is known as the powerhouse of aviation market. However, according to new research by flight data provider OAG, three of world’s busiest routes are North American airports. Two of those routes shuttle passengers between United States and Canada.
One reason for this high demand maybe Canada is drawing record numbers of international travellers, including those from USA. Or it might be the resurgence of interest in international travel by Canadians after a setback by a weak economy and unfavourable currency exchange rates. The airline carried a record 48 million passengers last year after inclusion of 30 new routes last year also holds the largest share of both the busiest routes connecting United States and Canada.
New York/Toronto
This is the busiest route in North America. It is also the eighth busiest in the world. The LaGuardia (LGA)-Toronto (YYZ) airport pairing operated 16,956 scheduled flights between March 2017 and February 2018.
New York/London
John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport is a hub to the second-busiest route in North America and the 16th busiest in the world through its connection to London Heathrow (LHR).
Chicago/Toronto
Toronto Pearson International Airport is 20th busiest in world for its connections with Chicago O’Hare (ORD), which recorded 13,100 flights over 12 months.
World’s Busiest Routes
30,537 annual flights flew between Kuala Lumpur (KUI) and Singapore (SIN). AirAsia had the biggest share handling almost 25 percent of the 5.3 million seats on that route. In second is the route connecting Hong Kong with Taipei, Taiwan, which had 28,887 flights last year. Cathay Pacific is the largest handler having a share of 45 percent of 8.1 million seats on that route.
