2024 a ‘record-breaking year in aviation history’ – Cirium
UK aviation soared to new heights in 2024, with over 1.98 million scheduled flights departing from and arriving at UK airports, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
The year saw 357.6 million seats available for travellers, marking a 5.9% increase in seat capacity compared to 2023. Departures also rose by 4.3% year-on-year.
While departures in 2024 reached 91.2% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels, seat capacity nearly matched pre-pandemic figures at 99.8%, signaling a robust recovery for the sector. The busiest day for UK air travel was September 6, while Christmas Day remained the quietest.
Amsterdam, Dublin, and Dubai ranked as the top international destinations, while Heathrow dominated the busiest single routes, with flights to New York JFK, Dubai, and Dublin leading the list.
Cirium’s data highlights a remarkable comeback for UK aviation, as travel demand continues to surge post-pandemic. With seat capacity nearing historic highs, 2024 is being hailed as a landmark year for the industry.
Globally, during 2024 airlines offered 5.85 billion seats on scheduled flights worldwide, exceeding the previous record of 5.72 billion seats set in 2019 by 2%.
Global seat capacity also increased by 6% year-on-year in 2024, fuelled by surging demand for air travel and airlines deploying larger aircraft to meet this demand.
Despite the rise in seat availability, the total number of scheduled flights in 2024, at 36.4 million, remained 5% below 2019 levels, emphasising airlines’ shift toward operating larger planes with higher seating capacities.
Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium, commented: “Looking back on 2024, it is clear that demand for air travel continued to rise, with airlines matching this demand by providing a record-breaking 5.85 billion seats globally.
“The fact that the industry has managed to exceed 2019 highs just a few years post-pandemic shows the strength air travel has in today’s world—whether that be connecting families and friends, allowing important face-to-face business meetings, or simply allowing travellers to explore new parts of the world.”
