Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World for Long-Haul Flights in Sep 2025

LONDON, UK- London Heathrow Airport (LHR) leads as the world’s top hub for long-haul flights in September 2025, with 251 daily departures covering at least 3,000 statute miles each way.

This surpasses other major airports like New York (JFK) and Dubai (DXB), driven by high demand and diverse carriers, including British Airways (BA).

Nearly 400 airports globally offer such services, but the top 10 account for significant growth, rising 3% from last year to 1,336 daily departures.

Key players like Paris (CDG) and Doha (DOH) show shifts, with Doha climbing ranks due to new routes from airlines such as Qatar Airways (QR) and partners.

Photo: SAAB

Top 10 Long-Haul Airports in September 2025

The top 10 airports for long-haul flights, defined as covering at least 3,000 statute miles, handle 1,336 daily departures in September 2025, up 3% from 1,296 last year.

London Heathrow (LHR) leads, followed by key hubs in the US, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Doha’s rise and Madrid’s rapid growth highlight shifting dynamics, with new carriers and routes fueling expansion.

Photo- Tvcameraop; Wikimedia Commons

1. London Heathrow (LHR)

• Daily Long-Haul Departures: 251
• Share (%): 37%
• Leading Airline: British Airways (BA)
• Airline Share: 33%

London Heathrow (LHR) dominates with 251 daily long-haul departures, driven by high demand and diverse carriers. British Airways (BA) holds a third of operations, but a potential new runway may reduce its share. The airport’s 37% long-haul share is unmatched in Europe.

Photo: Ferrovial

2. New York (JFK)

• Daily Long-Haul Departures: 155
• Share (%): 26%
• Leading Airline: Delta Air Lines (DL)
• Airline Share: 22%

New York (JFK) ranks second with 155 daily departures, where 26% of flights are long-haul. Delta Air Lines (DL) leads but lacks fortress hub status, reflecting JFK’s role as a global gateway with diverse airline operations.

Photo: Dubai International Airport

3. Dubai (DXB)

• Daily Long-Haul Departures: 153
• Share (%): 25%
• Leading Airline: Emirates (EK)
• Airline Share: 84%

Dubai (DXB) secures third place with 153 departures, led by Emirates (EK) with an 84% share. Its 25% long-haul share underscores its role as a major Gulf hub, connecting passengers across six continents.

Boom Overture | Photo: Boom Supersonic

4. Paris (CDG)

• Daily Long-Haul Departures: 145
• Share (%): 23%
• Leading Airline: Air France (AF)
• Airline Share: 50%

Paris (CDG) has 145 daily long-haul departures, with Air France (AF) controlling half. Its 23% long-haul share reflects strong European connectivity, soon enhanced by Korean Air’s (KE) A380 return.

Photo: Hamad International Airport

5. Doha (DOH)

• Daily Long-Haul Departures: 121
• Share (%): 34%
• Leading Airline: Qatar Airways (QR)
• Airline Share: 86%

Doha (DOH) rises to fifth with 121 departures, up 6% from last year. Qatar Airways (QR) dominates at 86%, boosted by new routes from Virgin Australia (VA) and Shenzhen Airlines (ZH).

Photo- Kiefer. from Frankfurt, Germany; Wikimedia Commons

6. Frankfurt (FRA)

• Daily Long-Haul Departures: 113
• Share (%): 17%
• Leading Airline: Lufthansa (LH)
• Airline Share: 37%

Frankfurt (FRA) records 113 departures, with Lufthansa (LH) at 37%. Its 17% long-haul share supports strong European connections, despite being overtaken by Doha this year.

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport; Photo- IHG Hotels & Resorts

7. Singapore (SIN)

• Daily Long-Haul Departures: 103
• Share (%): 22%
• Leading Airline: Singapore Airlines (SQ)
• Airline Share: 50%

Singapore (SIN) has 103 departures, led by Singapore Airlines (SQ) at 50%. Its 22% long-haul share reflects robust Asia-Pacific connectivity, with growing 787-10 routes.

Photo: By Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK – Boeing 777-39PER ‘B-2022’ China Eastern, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80668437

8. Madrid (MAD)

• Daily Long-Haul Departures: 102
• Share (%): 18%
• Leading Airline: Iberia (IB)
• Airline Share: 33%

Madrid (MAD) jumps to eighth with 102 departures, up 11% from last year. Iberia (IB) holds 33%, with growth driven by new carriers like JetBlue (B6) and A321XLRs.

Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr

9. Amsterdam (AMS)

• Daily Long-Haul Departures: 100
• Share (%): 15%
• Leading Airline: KLM (KL)
• Airline Share: 50%

Amsterdam (AMS) sees 100 departures, with KLM (KL) at 50%. Its 15% long-haul share supports efficient European hub operations, though surpassed by Madrid.

Photo: Delta

10. Los Angeles (LAX)

• Daily Long-Haul Departures: 92
• Share (%): 13%
• Leading Airline: United Airlines (UA)
• Airline Share: 9%

Los Angeles (LAX) rounds out with 92 departures, where United Airlines (UA) holds 9%. Its 13% long-haul share reflects diverse global connections, especially to Asia and Australia.

Photo: Hamad International Airport

Growth Trends in Top Airports

Overall, long-haul departures hit record highs, per schedule analysis. The top 10 remain unchanged from last year, but internal shifts occur. Doha’s 6% increase propelled its rise, aided by carrier expansions.

Madrid shows the fastest growth, jumping from 12th pre-pandemic to eighth now. New carriers at Madrid include Azul (AD) in June 2025, Capital Airlines (JD) in January 2025, Ethiopian Airlines (ET) in July 2025, JetBlue (B6) in May 2025, Sichuan Airlines (3U) in April 2025, and Uzbekistan Airways (HY) in April 2025.

Incumbents like American Airlines (AA) added Chicago O’Hare, reaching six daily departures.

According to Simple Flying, the long-haul definition aligns with United Airlines’ (UA) 3,000-mile threshold, sourced from Cirium Diio data.

Marginal distance tweaks minimally affect rankings. Figures represent September departures divided by 30 days; double for round-trip departures.

Photo: File: New York – John F. Kennedy International (Idlewild) (JFK – KJFK) AN0619542.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

Future Implications

Expansion at hubs like Doha and Madrid signals rising connectivity, especially with Asian and Latin American links.

Heathrow’s slot constraints limit growth, yet demand persists. Gulf carriers’ dominance in shares contrasts with diverse operations at European and US airports, shaping competitive dynamics.

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