ourteen North American Airports land in OAG’s Global Megahubs Index, including Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Atlanta (ATL) and Los Angeles (LAX).
BOSTON – OAG released its Megahubs Index 2019. The analysis reveals the Top 50 most internationally connected airports in the world and the Top 25 most domestically connected airports in the U.S.
Chicago O’Hare (ORD; Domestic Connectivity Index: 459) leads North America in connectivity for the fourth consecutive year and is the third most internationally connected airport in the world. On the busiest day in aviation this year, 83,580 domestic connections were possible within a three-hour window at ORD – 2% more than last year. United Airlines operates the majority of flights at O’Hare at 48%, down 2% from 2018.
San Diego International (SAN; International Connectivity Index: 83), which is growing at a rate of 5%, ranked fifth in the Top 25 Low-Cost Megahub rankings, making it the highest ranked LCC airport in the Americas. Southwest is the dominant carrier at SAN, with a 39% share of seats.
“O’Hare’s continued leadership on the world stage and locally in North America is impressive. Its connectivity network remains one of the best in the world,” said John Grant, senior analyst at OAG. “Hubs like Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Houston and Atlanta continue to play a major role for travel, trade and commerce globally – essentially serving as a one-stop connectivity point to nearly every major city in the world.”
Aside from O’Hare, 13 other North American airports made OAG’s list of Top 50 Global Megahubs, including Toronto Pearson (YYZ; ICI:251), Atlanta (ATL; ICI:247), Los Angeles (LAX; ICI:219), New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK; ICI:186) and Miami (MIA; ICI:184). Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta each finished one spot lower on the world stage compared to 2018, finishing third and eighth respectively in 2019.
In the U.S., Houston (IAH; DCI:102), Seattle (SEA; DCI:94), Boston (BOS; DCI:75), Newark (EWR; DCI:49), Washington Dulles (IAD; DCI:61) and Dallas Love Field (DAL; DCI:69) all moved up in the domestic connectivity rankings this year.
American Airlines and United Airlines each control market share at six of the Top 25 U.S. Megahubs. American Airlines owns 89% of flights at Charlotte Douglas (CLT; DCI:232) and United Airlines has an 82% share of flights at Houston George Bush Intercontinental. Delta Air Lines owns 79% at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson (ATL; DCI:394).
London Heathrow (LHR) is once again the most internationally connected airport with an International Connectivity Index of 317 points, followed by Frankfurt (FRA; ICI:309).
Key Findings:
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is the most connected airport in the U.S. and third in the world. This is the fourth consecutive year ORD is the most connected Megahub in North America.
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) ranks second in the U.S. and eighth globally for its connectivity.
- Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW) is now third in the U.S. for domestic connectivity, swapping places with Charlotte Douglas (CLT), which finished fourth.
- Three Canadian airports are among the Top 50 Global Megahubs, including Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Vancouver International (YVR) and Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL).
- London Heathrow (LHR) remains the most internationally connected airport in the world.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
