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Summary of this week’s travel news: In addition to the secret tunnel city under Rome, the “8D city” in China where trains pass through the walls, a new report reveals the world’s busiest flight routes, the largest aviation market and the most popular planes.
Isn’t the data just delicious?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its 2024 World Air Transport Statistics Report, full of fascinating nuggets.
Here are a few to surprise your Avgeek friends.
The United States is the world’s largest aviation market, with 876 million passengers per year in 2024, and is primarily domestic flights. This is four times more populated than India, the world’s most populous country and the fifth largest aviation market.
China is hotter with the state’s second-highest heel, with 741 million passengers growing 18.7% year-on-year in 2024, compared to the modest 5.2% in the US.
The UK is just an island nation with 94,000 square miles, but in 2024 it is the world’s third largest aviation market with 261 million passengers scooping over the land and the ocean.
Many of these Brits would have been heading to vacation hotspot Spain, the fourth largest aviation market with 241 million passengers last year.
Busiest flight routes and most popular planes
Continue with more information from the IATA report.
Nine of the 10 busiest flight routes in the world are located in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the number one in the world is domestic flights in Korea. It’s an 1 hour 15 minute trip between the Island Resort City (CJU) and the capital Seoul (GMP). Over 13 million passengers flew the route in 2024.
North America’s busiest route is a classic airport pairing, just like ketchup and hot dogs. It was LAX (or as if we didn’t know from New York to Los Angeles), and last year 2.2 million passengers sailed.
The most popular European route is a one-hour flight between Spanish vacation hotspots Barcelona (BCN) and Palma de Mallorca (PMI), with 2 million passengers in 2024. Do you need a flight that’s not busy? Take a look at our guide to the Spanish region that is not fed up with tourists.
Latin America’s busiest route (with 3.8 million passengers) is an hourly flight between Bogota (BOG), the capital of Colombia, and Medellin (MDE), the second largest city in Colombia.
With 3.3 million passengers, Africa’s most popular route is a two-hour domestic South Africa flight between Cape Town (CPT) and Johannesburg (JNB).
Finally, the Boeing 737 Max had a history of disaster, but the Boeing 737 (including all variants) earned 10 million flights in 2024.
The No. 2 and No. 3 planes are also narrow aircraft made by Boeing’s European rival Airbus. The A320 flew 7.9 million flights, and the A321 flew 3.4 million times.
Let’s talk fully about your journey and about your destination. There are three things to consider for your next big trip.
Halfty in southeastern Turkey was one of several towns and cities that were intentionally flooded when the Bilekik Dam was built in 2000.
Angola in southern Africa is twice the size of Texas and boasts the spectacular natural wonders most visited by tourists. After being cut off from the world decades later, the country is open, infrastructure is improved, and discovery awaits.
Located in the mountainous region of southwestern China, Chonggin attracts young travelers thanks to its heartfelt, multi-faceted terrain. Check out this train that passes through residential buildings to see what we mean.
Look at the ancient tunnels that go 75 feet below the city of Rome
The ancient network of caves and tunnels is located about 75 feet below the city of Rome and has been hidden from the world for over a century. Now, this underground maze has been discovered once more. Here are some of the 21st century visitors can see:
One of the most important items for cave explorers is, of course, the headlamp. CNN partners have this guide for the best headlamps of 2025, highlighting the product reviews and recommendations guides owned by CNN.
France is forced to stand up to its toxic kitchen culture.
Whistleblowers are looking for change.
Italy gave Go-Aard for the Landmark Sicily Bridge Project.
It could be the longest single span bridge in the world.
Flying phobia affects more than 25 million Americans.
Here’s how to manage it:
It’s never too late for a summer vacation.
Check out America’s most underrated islands.
