The top 10 best countries for international air connectivity have been revealed by new data for the first half of 2024.
An analysis by Mabrian, a tourism intelligence company, has ranked the best nations for global connectivity based on flight schedules.
The study, which covers travel dates from 1 January to 30 June compared to the same period in 2023, suggests a “significant evolution in the connectivity landscape”.
According to the data, European countries, including Spain, France, Italy, the UK and the Netherlands, are experiencing a “remarkable increase in connectivity, collectively offering 1.98 million air seats. This marks a 190 per cent increase compared to the first half of 2023.
In order of best international connectivity by number of seats, the US ranked first with 83.5 million seats followed by the UK with 72.8 million.
Germany ranked third with 53.7 million seats, closely followed by Spain with 53.4 million. United Arab Emirates took the fifth spot with 41.8 million.
Source: Mabrian
Gavin Eccles, director of GE Consulting, a company specialised in air connectivity, said: “US carriers are once again heavily investing in their international strategy, leading to a notable increase in seats across the Atlantic for Europe.
“The robust outbound markets of the UK and Germany are also experiencing significant growth in seats and connections as they recover strongly from the pandemic.
“The resurgence of China with a substantial number of routes and seats is promising, and if this growth continues, 2024 could surpass 2019 as the year with the highest international connections,” he continued.
“Additionally, the influence of Emirates and Etihad is evident in the considerable international seats offered through the UAE, highlighting Dubai and Abu Dhabi as global hubs facilitating travel to and through the region.”
Behind the United Arab Emirates, in order, were France, Italy, China, Turkey and Japan.
The total air seats for the top 10 countries amount to 482,102,279 – contributing to 42 per cent of the global international air seats in the first half of the year, according to Mabrian.
Mabrian said its ranking reflects the outbound travel potential of these nations, positioning them as key targets in the global travel landscape.
Image credit: @s_fukumura/Adobe Stock
