The world at the UK’s fingertips - Heathrow crowned the most connected airport in the world for the second year running by leading aviation analysts

• For the second year running, OAG's Megahubs 2024 report declares Heathrow the most connected airport in the world, beating out Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo to the top spot.
• As the UK's hub airport, Heathrow connects passengers and cargo to 234 destinations in over 85 nations and regions across the globe, with over 80 airlines operating.
• This impressive connectivity means Heathrow is one of select airports in the world part of the 'Six Continents Club' with direct flights on offer to every inhabited continent on earth.

Leading aviation data analysts OAG reveal Heathrow as the most connected airport in the world in the Megahubs 2024 report, a back-to-back win for Heathrow after the airport returned to the top spot in 2023. OAG analytics takes into account not only the total number of destinations served, but also the number of scheduled connections to and from international flights, with the high frequency of Heathrow's connections being the secret to success.

Over 80 airlines fly from the airport's four terminals with many new airlines and routes vying to enter Heathrow. Tianjin Airlines have recently celebrated securing slots to continue their operations to Xi'an, Chongqing and Tianjin (China) year-round, while Virgin Airlines will be extending their network to Accra (Ghana), and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) in Summer 2025.

The airport's extensive route network seals Heathrow's membership to the 'six continent club' with direct flights on offer to every habitable continent on earth, an accolade only shared by a handful of hub airports across the world. Numerous routes on offer are 'Heathrow exclusives' that no other UK airport flies directly to, such as Portland (USA), Chengdu (China) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).

From the mammoth 17-hour flight to Perth operated by Qantas, to British Airways' hour and a half flight to Inverness, which connects the Scottish Highlands and Islands to the world, Heathrow's connectivity is vast and world renowned. This unrivalled access means so much more than just great holidays, it allows exporters and businesses from UK's nations and regions to reach 95% of the world's economy in a single flight.

Ross Baker, Chief Customer Officer, Heathrow said: "We are thrilled to retain the crown of world's most connected airport and all the benefits this brings to the UK economy. Heathrow passengers have unrivalled access to the world, and it gives homegrown businesses a competitive edge. It is set to be a record-breaking year at Heathrow as our dedicated teams help more people fly across the world than ever before, so I am delighted to offer this award-winning connectivity."

John Grant, Chief Analyst, OAG said: "The combination of destinations served and, very importantly, the frequency with which they are served, are key factors in creating the most successful Megahubs in the world. Heathrow scores on both counts, placing it ahead of its rivals."

Discover Heathrow's worldwide network here: https://www.heathrow.com/travel-guides/route-map

Access the full OAG Megahubs report here: https://www.oag.com/megahubs-airports-2024