Let's look at the top ten

I thought I’d check out a few of the top ten lists in categories like domestic travel, international travel, and longest flights by time and distance.

The top 10 busiest air routes in the world by scheduled seat capacity. 

1. Jeju International (CJU) – Seoul Gimpo (GMP): 14.38 million seats (South Korea)
2. Sapporo New Chitose (CTS) – Tokyo Haneda (HND): 12.10 million seats (Japan)
3. Fukuoka (FUK) – Tokyo Haneda (HND): 11.50 million seats (Japan)
4. Hanoi (HAN) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN): 11.08 million seats (Vietnam)
5. Jeddah (JED) – Riyadh (RUH): 9.82 million seats (Saudi Arabia)
6. Melbourne (MEL) – Sydney (SYD): 8.95 million seats (Australia)
7. Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Okinawa Naha (OKA): 8.05 million seats (Japan)
8. Mumbai (BOM) – Delhi (DEL): 7.64 million seats (India)
9. Beijing Capital (PEK) – Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA): 7.45 million seats (China)
10. Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) – Shenzhen (SZX): 7.14 million seats (China)

The top 10 busiest international (cross-border) air routes in the world 

1. Hong Kong (HKG) – Taipei (TPE) Scheduled Seats: ~ 6.83 million
2. Cairo (CAI) – Jeddah (JED) Scheduled Seats: ~ 5.75 million
3. Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Singapore Changi (SIN) Scheduled Seats: ~ 5.57 million
4. Seoul Incheon (ICN) – Tokyo Narita (NRT) Scheduled Seats: ~ 5.07 million
5. Seoul Incheon (ICN) – Osaka Kansai (KIX) Scheduled Seats: ~ 4.96 million
6. Jakarta (CGK) – Singapore Changi (SIN) Scheduled Seats: ~ 4.62 million
7. Dubai (DXB) – Riyadh (RUH) Scheduled Seats: ~ 4.47 million
8. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) – Hong Kong (HKG) Scheduled Seats: ~ 4.17 million
9. Tokyo Narita (NRT) – Taipei (TPE) Scheduled Seats: ~ 4.02 million
10. New York JFK (JFK) – London Heathrow (LHR) Scheduled Seats: ~ 3.97 million

The top 10 longest non-stop commercial flight routes in the world by distance and time 

 

      1. Singapore (SIN) – New York (JFK) Singapore Airlines
      Flight Time: ~ 18 hours 50 minutes. Distance: 15,349 km (9,537 miles) 

      2. Singapore (SIN) – Newark (EWR) Singapore Airlines
      Flight Time: ~18 hours 25 minutes. Distance: 15,345 km (9,534 miles) 

        3. Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) Qatar Airways
        Flight Time: ~17 hours 35 minutes. Distance: 14,535 km (9,031 miles) 

    
       4. Perth (PER) – London (LHR) Qantas
        Flight Time: ~17 hours 20 minutes. Distance: 14,499 km (9,009 miles)

     
        5. Melbourne (MEL) – Dallas (DFW) Qantas
        Flight Time: ~17 hours 35 minutes. Distance: 14,471 km (8,992 miles)  

  
        6. Perth (PER) – Paris (CDG) Qantas
        Flight Time: ~17 hours 20 minutes. Distance: 14,264 km (8,864 miles)  

   
        7. Auckland (AKL) – New York (JFK) Air New Zealand / Qantas
        Flight Time: ~17 hours 50 minutes. Distance: 14,207 km (8,828 miles)  

  
       8. Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) Emirates
        Flight Time: ~17 hours 10 minutes. Distance: 14,201 km (8,824 miles)  

   
       9. Shenzhen (SZX) – Mexico City (MEX) China Southern Airlines
        Flight Time: ~16 hours. Distance: 14,148 km (8,791 miles) 

    
      10. Singapore (SIN) – Los Angeles (LAX) Singapore Airlines
        Flight Time: ~17 hours 50 minutes. Distance: 14,114 km (8,770 miles)

Van On Runway As Jetstar A320 Touches Down In Townsville

A Jetstar Airbus A320 has come alarmingly close to a white van during its approach to Townsville Airport (TSV/YBTL), prompting a serious incident investigation by Australia's aviation safety watchdog.

What should have been a routine landing became the subject of a major safety investigation after a white van entered the runway area just as a passenger jet was approaching to land. The incident occurred at approximately 2.20 pm on the 7th of October 2026, when Jetstar flight JQ908 arrived from Brisbane at Townsville Airport in North Queensland.

According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the aircraft, an Airbus A320-232, was approaching runway 01 when the flight crew observed a white van entering the runway near its threshold. The vehicle stopped at the outer edge of the runway as the aircraft passed overhead at approximately 50 feet above ground level — a clearance of around 15 metres.

The A320 subsequently landed safely, and the van resumed crossing the runway.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or damage to the aircraft. However, the circumstances surrounding the incident have raised important questions about runway safety and the movement of ground vehicles in restricted airport areas. The ATSB has classified the occurrence as a very serious incident and commenced an investigation into the runway incursion and near-collision.

Investigators will interview the people involved, retrieve and examine recorded data, and collect additional evidence to establish exactly what happened. At this stage, the ATSB has not published any findings explaining why the van entered the runway area or whether any procedures were breached. Jetstar confirmed that the flight landed normally and said the airline was working with the ATSB to understand the circumstances.

Townsville Airport operates as a joint-use facility alongside RAAF Base Townsville, with the Royal Australian Air Force providing air traffic control services. The Department of Defence has confirmed it is cooperating with the ATSB investigation but has declined to comment further while the inquiry continues. The incident is particularly concerning because it highlights the risks that arise when aircraft and ground vehicles occupy the same operating environment during critical phases of flight.

During the final moments of an approach, pilots are concentrating on maintaining the correct flight path, speed and landing configuration. An unexpected vehicle near the runway presents an additional hazard when there may be very little time to react.

Aircraft Information:
Airline: Jetstar
Code: JQ/JST
Aircraft: Airbus A320-232
Registration: VH-VGQ
Serial Number: 4303
Engines: 2 x IAE V2527-A5
First Flew: May 20210
Age: 16 Years

Qatar FIFA World Cup Calls into Brisbane - "Finally"

Ever since the Qatar 777, A7-BEH, was repainted for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, my daughter and I, along with most Brisbane spotters, have been eagerly waiting for this livery to arrive in Brisbane. Every morning we would check, but unfortunately, it never happened. It visited Sydney and Melbourne many times, and even Perth and Adelaide had the chance to see it. Then, on Monday, the 12th of October it was finally Brisbane’s turn. Sadly, the excitement turned into disappointment for me, as I was in the hospital with a heart condition and couldn’t go out to see it.

On the 4th of May the aircraft entered the paint facility at Shannon Airport, Ireland.
On the 25th of May it emerged from the paint shop in its new FIFA World Cup 2026 special livery. 
On the 28th of May the first flight in the new livery was to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

After five months of waiting, it finally arrived. A huge thanks to my daughter for heading to the airport to take photos for me, capturing a few other movements while she waited. Special thanks to my wife as well for driving her out there.

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 787-9 ZK-NZL (MSN 43218)
NZ144 OFF TO AUCKLAND (AKL) 9 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BEOING 737-8FE VH-VUQ (MSN 36606)
VA962 OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 18 YEARS

ALLIANCE AIRLINES FOKKER 100 VH-UQD (MSN 11460)
QQ550 OFF TO CAIRNS (CNS) 33 YEARS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 400 VH-LQG (MSN 4376)
QLK335D ARRIVING FROM GLADSTONE (GLT) 15 YEARS

AERLINK ATR 72-500 VH-FVY (MSN 0480)
AL483 ARRIVING FROM TOWNSVILLE (TSV) 17 YEARS

LINK AIRWAYS FAIRCHILD METRO23 VH-VEU (MSN DC-797B)
LR551 OFF TO COFFS HARBOUR (CFS) 34 YEARS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHJ (MSN 328)
SQ236 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 7 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-XZA (MSN 39367)
QF581 ARRIVING FROM HAMILTON ISLAND (HTI) 14 YEARS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHP (MSN 436)
SQ256 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE (SIN) 6 YEARS

REX SAAB 340B VH-ZLJ (MSN 340B-380) 30 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YIG (MSN 38711)
VA615 OFF TO MACKAY (MKY) 14 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A333-202 VH-EBR (MSN 1251)
QF126 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 15 YEARS

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-UZI (MSN 19000191)
QLK1827 ARRIVING FROM MACKAY (MKY) 18 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VXH (MSN 33478)
QF633 OFF TO MELBOURNE (MEL) 24 YEARS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 VH-LQH (MSN 4431)
QLK325D ARRIVING FROM BUNDABERG (BDB) 14 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A321-271 ZK-NND (MSN 8629)
NZ271 ARRIVING FROM WELLINGTON (WLG) 7 YEARS

ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR BEECH KING AIR 360 VH-FDW (MSN FM-99)
FD447 OFF TO THANGOOL (THG) 5 YEARS

LINK AIRWAYS SAAB 340B VH-VEM (MSN 340B-364)
LR661 OFF TO TAMWORTH (TMW) 32 YEARS

ALLIANCE AIRLINES FOKKER 70 VH-JFE (MSN 11545)
QQ7247 ARRIVING FROM WEIPA (WEI) 32 YEARS

REX SAAB 340B+ VH-ZLQ (MSN 340B-370)
ZL5733 ARRIVING FROM ROMA (RMA) 31 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OYW (MSN 12183)
JQ909 ARRIVING FROM TOWNSVILLE (TSV) 1 YEAR

QANTAS AIRBUS A321-271NY VH-OGE (MSN 12762)
QF936 ARRIVING FROM PERTH (PER) 7 MONTHS

QATAR BOEING 777-3DZ A7-BEH (MSN 60334)
QR898 ARRIVING FROM DOHA (DOH) 10 YEARS

A huge thanks to my beautiful daughter Selina for not just taking the photos for me but preparing the aircraft information for me. Love you so much sweetheart.

Bed Bugs Ground Qantas Boeing 787

A long-haul Qantas flight from Perth (PER/YPPH) to Rome (FCO/LIRF) has been at the centre of an unusual incident after passengers reportedly complained of bed bug bites during the journey.

The incident occurred aboard flight QF5 on the 9th of October 2026. Reports indicate that passengers were given antihistamines following complaints of bites, with the problem believed to have affected a small number of economy-class seats.

The situation subsequently disrupted the return journey. Qantas cancelled flight QF6 from Rome to Perth on the 10th of October, taking the Boeing 787 Dreamliner out of service to allow engineers and maintenance teams to carry out a deep clean and fumigation.

Passengers affected by the cancellation were provided with accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights, with some experiencing delays of up to 48 hours.

Qantas apologised for the disruption, explaining that the cleaning was necessary after an issue was identified in a small number of economy seats. The airline reiterated that its aircraft cabins are cleaned regularly and maintained to high hygiene standards.

Bed bugs can hide in upholstery and small crevices, making them difficult to eliminate completely. Although their bites can cause uncomfortable itching and swelling, the insects are not known to transmit diseases to humans.

The incident highlights the potential for a seemingly small cabin problem to have significant consequences for an airline, particularly when an aircraft operating a long-haul international route must be removed from service for specialist treatment.

Aircraft Information:
Airline: Qantas 

Code: QF/QFA

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

Registration: VH-ZNI

Serial Number: 66073

Engines: 2 x GenX 1-B

First Flew: October 2019

Age: 7 Years 

Riyadh Airport Under Attack:

Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH/OERK) in Riyadh has come under repeated attack in a series of incidents that have killed civilians, damaged aircraft and disrupted air travel.

The attacks escalated on Thursday, 8th of October, when two strikes targeted airport facilities and an aircraft belonging to Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia. Saudi authorities confirmed that three Saudi citizens were killed, including Saudia Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami. The airline also confirmed that one of its aircraft sustained substantial damage while parked on the ground. Fortunately, no passengers were aboard the aircraft at the time.

The situation deteriorated further on Saturday, 10th of October, when another strike hit the airport’s passenger terminal complex. Saudi civil aviation authorities initially reported 12 fatalities and 309 injuries. Subsequent reporting on Sunday indicated that one more person had died, bringing the reported death toll to 13.

Airport operations were suspended as emergency crews responded and authorities assessed the damage. The attacks also raised concerns about the safety of passengers, airport employees and aircraft operating across the region.

On Sunday, 11th of October, the airport was targeted again. Saudi authorities reported further injuries and damage, with a projectile striking Terminal 4 and causing a fire. A cruise missile was also reported to have been intercepted near the airport.

Saudi Arabia and its military coalition have blamed Yemen’s Houthi movement for the attacks. The Houthis have issued warnings to airlines and travellers about using Saudi airports and airspace, while claiming responsibility for other attacks in the escalating conflict.

The repeated strikes have placed a major international aviation gateway under unprecedented pressure, highlighting the growing risks faced by airlines operating in conflict-affected airspace.

With airport safety inspections and security measures continuing, the situation remains fluid. Airlines and travellers will be watching closely for further developments as the regional conflict intensifies.

Top 5 World's Biggest Airports by Number of Gates

An airport’s ability to operate smoothly relies heavily on the number of active passenger boarding gates. Contact gates dictate how many planes can load or unload travelers via jet bridges, so having enough is key to meeting demand. For passengers, more gates mean shorter connection times, fewer flight delays, and less time waiting on the tarmac during busy departure periods.

Despite the top 5 being in the USA, this ranking highlights the top global aviation hubs, based solely on active passenger boarding gates directly connected to terminal infrastructure. Remote parking stands that need apron bus transport are excluded unless officially designated as primary gate facilities, as they don’t require the same infrastructure as typical gates. From expansive linear concourses to distinctive horseshoe layouts, these five airports stand out for offering the highest passenger contact capacity.

Number 5 - Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX)
161 gates: Split across nine different terminals'

Los Angeles International Airport operates 161 active boarding gates distributed across nine distinct passenger terminals. Situated on 3,500 acres (1,416 hectares) along the Southern California coastline, the facility banks on its central U-shaped footprint to process tens of millions of travelers each year across four parallel runways. As the West Coast's premier gateway, LAX is a crucial part of transpacific operations, and the airport is home to a wide variety of airlines from both sides of the Pacific.

Number 4 - Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW/KDFW)
168 gates: Semi-circular terminal modules and high-speed transit with rapid passenger transfers across five concourses 

Sprawling across 17,183 acres (6,954 hectares) between Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW operates 168 active passenger boarding gates across five distinct semicircular terminal buildings labeled A through E, according to NerdWallet. Designed in the early 1970s around a central highway corridor, the airport's original blueprint prioritized vehicular convenience, which allowed travelers to park steps away from their departure gate.

Number 3 - Denver International Airport (DEN/KDEN)
172 gates: A linear parallel concourse spine built for high-altitude wide-body capacity

Spanning 33,531 acres (13,570 hectares) across the Colorado plains, Denver International Airport operates a linear midfield concourse layout engineered for high-volume aircraft processing. Official facility data lists 172 active passenger boarding gates distributed across Concourses A, B, and C. Designed around a single main terminal concept, the airport houses all check-in facilities within the iconic tented Jeppesen Terminal, routing travelers to parallel concourses via a subterranean automated train system. Opened in the mid-1990s, the facility is undergoing a $1.3 billion renovation, with the final phase set to be completed in 2027, as detailed in Simple Flying coverage.

Number 2 - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL/KATL)
192 gates: The subterranean transit spine and seven parallel concourses built for relentless mega-hub connecting traffic.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport operates 192 active passenger boarding gates aligned along an efficient subterranean transit spine, as reported by The Daily Express. Covering 4,700 acres (1,902 ha) south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, the airport processes more annual passenger traffic than almost any other commercial aviation facility on earth. According to official facility data published by the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation, these gates are distributed across seven parallel midfield concourses labeled T, A, B, C, D, E, and F, held together by domestic and international terminal buildings at opposite ends of the airfield complex.

Number 1 - Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD/KORD)
199 gates: Dual mega-carrier hubs and four terminal complexes form the world's dense contact gate leader

Chicago O'Hare International Airport holds the top ranking globally with 199 active passenger boarding contact gates. According to official facility data published by the Chicago Department of Aviation, these contact gates are distributed across four active terminal buildings labeled Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5. Covering over 7,200 acres (2,913 ha) on Chicago's northwest side, O'Hare is made up of a combination of older finger piers and linear concourses to maintain high daily flight volume for its two major hub carriers.









Story sourced from here but with alterations
5 Largest Airports In The World By Number Of Gates

Plane spotting from around Brisbane

Yesterday morning, runway 01 was in use at Brisbane Airport, meaning aircraft landing on 01 Right flew near my home. Unfortunately, I had two things working against me. First, the cloud base was very low, around 2,800 feet, so most of the early big jets could be heard but not seen. Second, and more frustrating, Air Services Australia has changed the flight paths for reasons only they know, and instead of planes flying close to home and banking right in front of me, they’re now much farther south and not as close as they used to be.

As the morning progressed, the clouds shifted, and so did we. We drove to my daughter's place, just ten minutes from home, where I snapped a few photos. Afterwards, we headed to a dog park, and I kept taking pictures there as well.

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKE (MSN 36230)
JQ8990 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL) 12 YEARS

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 777-224 N77019 (MSN 35547)
UA96 ARRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO (SFO) 19 YEARS

 SLING 2 24-8489 (MSN 151) 12 YEARS 

GOLD COAST FLYING TRAINING SLING 2 24-8592 (MSN 181) 11 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A321-271NX ZK-NNG (MSN 8908)
NZ141 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 7 YEARS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 400 VH-LQG (MSN 4376)
QLK310D ARRIVING FROM CANBERRA (CBR) 15 YEARS

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-FNOH (MSN 35267)
AC35 ARRIVING FROM VANCOUVER (YVR) 10 YEARS

HOLE IN CLOUD CAUSED BY AIR CANADA

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VZX (MSN 34188)
QF132 ARRIVING FROM CHRISTCHURCH (CHC) 14 YEARS 

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPF (MSN 595)
QF62 ARRIVING FROM TOKYO (NRT) 22 YEARS

FOX CORPORATION GULFSTREAM G800 (MSN 88018) 1 YEAR

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-XZP (MSN 44577)
QF120 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (ALK) 11 YEARS 

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OYF (MSN 11529)
JQ150 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 2 YEARS

AEROPRAKT A32 VIXXEN VH-YVQ (MSN 029) 9 YEARS

GRUMMAN AMERICAN TIGER VH-JJJ (MSN AA5B-1249) 47 YEARS

BASAIR AVIATION PIPER ARCHER III VH-BKM (MSN 2843031) 30 YEARS

CESSNA 172M SKYHAWK VH-UGK (MSN 17263724) 52 YEARS

ROBINSON R22 BETA VH-JKH (MSN 1086) 37 YEARS 

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRBUS A350-941 B-LRS (MSN 128)
CX165 ARRIVING FROM HONG KONG (HKG) 9 YEARS

CHINA AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 B-18906 (MSN 092)
CI53 ARRIVING FROM TAIPEI (TPE) 9 YEARS

BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 6000 N175KH (MSN 9793) 9 YEARS

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VHUYU (MSN 19000126)
QLK1982 ARRIVING FROM NEWCASTLE (NTL) 19 YEARS

CESSNA CUTLASS RG VH-LGI (MSN 172RG0377) 46 YEARS

EMBRAER PHENOM 300E VH-87X (MSN 50500778) 2 YEARS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 400 VH-84P (MSN 4488)
QLK170D ARRIVING FROM PORT MACQUARIE (PQQ) 11 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YFJ (MSN 41001)
VA1393 ARRIVING FROM ADELAIDE (ADL) 14 YEARS

BASAIR AUSTRALIA CESSNA TURBO STATIONAIR TC 
VH-VDC (MSN T20608486) 22 YEARS