In a surprising twist, the Dubai to Riyadh flight route has soared to the 6th spot on the list of the world’s busiest international flights in 2023.
With nearly 4 million seats (3,990,076 to be exact) filled on flights between the two cities, what used to be a sleepy flight path is now a booming airway corridor.
This impressive seat numbers overshadows some long-standing popular routes, like the famous London Heathrow to JFK, which now trails behind at the eighth position.
Leading the pack globally is the Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi route, sitting pretty at the top with over 4.8 million seats. Following close behind are the Cairo to Jeddah and Hong Kong to Taipei routes.
What’s particularly striking about OAG’s latest findings is the shift from the more traditional, Western-centric air travel routes. It’s clear that the global travel patterns are diversifying, with new players like Seoul Incheon to Osaka Kansai and Bangkok to Seoul Incheon making their presence felt in the top 10.
As those who frequent the Dubai to Riyadh route will know, this rise in rank is more showcases the growing importance of the Middle East in the global travel network.