The United States, China, and the United Kingdom emerged as the world’s top air passenger markets in 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) latest World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) report.

United States retained its lead with 876 million passengers, a 5.2% year-on-year increase.

China followed closely, recording 741 million passengers, up an impressive 18.7% as international travel demand surged.

United Kingdom ranked third with 261 million passengers, a 7.3% rise compared to 2023.

Together, the three markets accounted for nearly 1.9 billion travelers, underscoring their central role in shaping global aviation trends.

Industry experts highlight that while the US continues to dominate in sheer passenger volume, China’s rapid recovery signals its growing influence in international and domestic aviation. The UK, buoyed by strong transatlantic and European demand, solidified its position as a key hub for global connectivity.

IATA noted that emerging markets such as India and Spain also registered strong growth, suggesting that global passenger traffic is diversifying beyond the traditional leaders.