Global airline capacity has increased by 0.9% to 484.4 million seats in November 2026 compared to the same month in 2025, according to OAG's latest data. However, the regional picture is varied, with significant shifts in North East Asia and the Middle East. The diplomatic row between China and Japan has led to a 40% reduction in seats between the two countries, amounting to 780,000 fewer seats. Conversely, routes from China to Korea have surged by 27.4%, and Japan to Korea by 19%, making Korea China's busiest international market with approximately 1 million seats.
In the Middle East, airline capacity has decreased by 13.2%, equating to 3.1 million fewer seats. Dubai International Airport has seen a reduction of 15.6%, or 826,000 seats. Emirates and Qatar Airways have experienced declines in international available seat kilometres (ASKs) by 4.4% and 4.8%, respectively, whilst Etihad Airways has increased by 12%.
In the US, Alaska Airlines has expanded its capacity by 1.4 million seats, a 29% increase, following its integration with Hawaiian Airlines. The Los Angeles to San Francisco route remains the busiest in the US, with 380,300 seats, marking a 3.8% increase.
In Europe, low-cost carriers are gaining market share. Wizz Air has increased its capacity by 18.7%, adding 1 million seats, whereas Lufthansa has reduced its capacity by 563,000 seats. Spain has emerged as the fastest-growing domestic market among the top 10, with a 6.4% increase
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