• Hong Kong-Taipei was the busiest international flight route in 2024, with 6.8 million seats.
• OAG's report shows Asia-Pacific dominates the busiest international routes post-pandemic.
• The busiest domestic route was between the South Korean island of Jeju and its capital, Seoul.

Hong Kong to Taipei is the world's busiest international flight route, according to a report published on Tuesday by air travel intelligence provider OAG.

The route has topped the list in 2024, with a total of 6.8 million seats — 48% higher than last year but 15% below 2019 levels, when it last appeared at the top of the list.

OAG's annual report, which examines global airline schedule data spanning from January to December 2024 and compares it to 2019 — before the COVID-19 pandemic — found that most of the busiest international routes are in the Asia-Pacific region.

The second most popular, with 5.5 million seats, was from Cairo to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The only route on the list in North America and Europe was between New York JFK and London Heathrow, which was ranked number 10 with 4 million seats, a 5% increase compared to 2019.

Here's the full top 10 list:

1. Hong Kong to Taipei: 6.78 million seats
2. Cairo to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: 5.47 million seats
3. Seoul to Tokyo: 5.41 million seats
4. Kuala Lumpur to Singapore: 5.38 million seats
5. Seoul to Osaka: 4.98 million seats
6. Dubai to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 4.31 million seats
7. Bangkok to Hong Kong: 4.20 million seats
8. Jakarta to Singapore: 4.07 million seats
9. Bangkok to Singapore: 4.03 million seats
10. New York JFK to London Heathrow: 4.01 million seats

Domestic airline routes were significantly busier than international ones.

The busiest route overall is in South Korea, a roughly 280-mile journey between the island of Jeju and Seoul's Gimpo airport. The route provided over 14 million seats in 2024, which, despite being the world's busiest, was a 19% fall compared to pre-pandemic numbers.

Per the OAG report, eight of the 10 busiest domestic flight routes were in Asia, including flights in Japan, China, India, and Vietnam.

No routes in North America or Europe were ranked in the top 10. The most popular route in North America connected Vancouver to Toronto, with 3.5 million seats.

The busiest domestic route in the United States was Atlanta-Orlando, which trailed slightly behind the Canadian route with just under 3.5 million seats in 2024.

Honolulu-Kahului ranked third in North America with 3.4 million seats. It was followed by Las Vegas-Los Angeles and a route connecting Denver to Phoenix.

In Europe, the top route was Barcelona to Palma in Spain, which had nearly 3 million seats. Half of Europe's busiest 10 routes were in Spain, OAG said.

• Waymo One's robotaxis could threaten Uber and Lyft drivers' earnings if they get access to airports.
• Airport rides are among the most profitable trips for human drivers.
• Waymo One is offering airport trips in Phoenix and is awaiting approval in other markets.

If Waymo One's robotaxis continue expanding to airports, human ride-hailing drivers could see their incomes take a big hit.

Airport trips are "incredibly important" for ride-hailing drivers, particularly those who work near cities with major airports, said Lindsey Cameron, an assistant professor of management — whose research focuses on AI and gig work — at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She added that airport pickups can be especially profitable because those rides often have higher fares, which are driven by strong customer demand.

"Those are the most lucrative rides," she said. "You've got a captive audience who wants to go home, and so they're willing to pay."

Many Uber and Lyft drivers have told BI their gigs are already less profitable than they were a few years ago — due, in part, to an increase in competition from both human and robot drivers. The threat of robotaxis further chipping away at their business has put some of them on edge.

Nicole Moore, a part-time Lyft driver and the president of the driver advocacy group Rideshare Drivers United, said that in the last couple of weeks, she's seen a significant uptick in concern from LA-based drivers about the impacts of robotaxis on their earnings. In November, Waymo One began offering rides to anyone in Los Angeles after previously operating a limited service with a waitlist.

"You put more drivers on the street — whether they're robot drivers or people — everybody makes less money," she said, adding, "We're thankful they're not in the airport yet."

Waymo One, which is owned by Alphabet, is the only company operating autonomous vehicles at US airports, Waymo told BI. It's also the biggest autonomous taxi service in the US: In October, the company said it was providing more than 150,000 weekly paid rides in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. Additionally, the company announced this fall it will offer rides to the public in the Atlanta and Austin markets early next year and in Miami in 2026.

While Waymo One airport trips are available in Phoenix —and the company has approval to begin pilot testing at the Austin airport — robotaxis are still restricted from airports in Los Angeles and San Francisco. In these cities, approval for airport rides would come from groups that oversee the airports' operations.

The experts BI spoke to said it's unclear if and when robotaxis will receive widespread approval for airport trips in the markets they're operating.

Spokespeople for Los Angeles World Airports and the Airport Commission for San Francisco International Airport told BI there is no estimated timeline for when Waymo One will receive approval, but the groups are monitoring the robotaxi's progress.

The LAWA spokesperson said the airport can experience significant curbside congestion and that for driverless taxis to gain airport approval, they would need to operate safely and efficiently and not impact the airport's current commercial and private vehicle operations. The Airport Commission spokesperson said driverless taxis would need to demonstrate the ability to operate on freeways and in communities near the airport and ensure they could safely meet the needs of customers.

Waymo is pushing for airport expansion in the US

Waymo told BI that it's providing thousands of trips each week to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the most popular destination for its riders in the city. The company also said it's in active discussions with San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport about expanding its fleet to these airports, but didn't give BI a timeline for when it expects to receive approvals.

The company added that it was granted approval to provide robotaxi trips on freeways in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, but that it hasn't begun offering those rides to the public yet: Access to these trips is currently limited to Waymo's employees in San Francisco and Phoenix.

A spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport told BI that the airport would monitor Waymo One's pilot testing before deciding whether to approve airport pickups.

Uber did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment, and Lyft said that its drivers have generally earned more on airport trips than on non-airport trips.

It's not just drivers who are feeling the pinch from Waymo One's expansions. GM announced on December 11 that it was retreating from the robotaxi business "given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market."

Meanwhile, on December 5, shares of Uber and Lyft traded lower after Waymo announced it was expanding to Miami.

To be sure, Waymo isn't the only company rolling out robotaxis: Tesla and the Amazon-owned Zoox are also developing their own versions of a robotaxi.

Airport trips are some drivers' 'bread and butter'

Moore said that airport trips aren't as profitable for drivers as they used to be, but that they remain important.

"They have been our bread and butter for many, many years," she said.

Jason D., a 50-year-old driver in Phoenix, told BI he does more airport trips than any other type of ride — in part because he drives an Uber XL vehicle that has the space for luggage and multiple passengers. He said competing with Waymo One at airports and elsewhere has hurt his earnings.

"Driverless taxis are flooding an already competitive Phoenix market and taking money from human drivers," Jason D, who drives full-time for Uber and asked that his last name not be included for fear of professional repercussions, previously told BI. He added that Waymo One's cars also contribute to significant congestion at the airport because they don't know how to follow traffic officers' hand and voice commands.

Sergio Avedian, a part-time Uber and Lyft driver based in the Los Angeles area and senior contributor to the gig-driver-advocacy blog and YouTube channel The Rideshare Guy, told BI that airport drop-offs tend to be quick, pay relatively well, and often come with a tip.

In comparison, doing airport pickups can require drivers at major airports to wait in designated lots until a passenger books a ride. Avedian said this process can be frustrating, but that airport pickups often pay better than drop-offs because the fares are higher — which is why some drivers think they're worth the wait.

"You have a chance of maybe catching a 'unicorn,'" he said, referring to the highest-paying trips. He added that many airport riders are business travelers who can expense their trips and are therefore less likely to balk at a high fare or not tip.

While robotaxis are already operating in the LA market, Avedian isn't overly concerned about robotaxis impact on drivers' earnings in the short term. But he knows the clock is ticking.

"Long-term, definitely it's going to be a threat, and that's why we suggest everybody not treat Uber and Lyft driving as a career," he previously told BI.

If more airports approve robotaxis, Moore said she hopes riders will value the customer service humans provide.

"Customers often expect you to put their luggage in the trunk — is the robotaxi going to do that?"

We want to hear from you. Do you work in the gig economy? Please fill out this form.

Correction: December 13, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated the number of weekly paid rides Waymo provided. It was more than 150,000, not 100,000.

• British Airways told customers on X it faced "baggage disruption" due to a fault at London Heathrow.
• Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport and the world's second-busiest for international flights.
• An aviation news site reported BA warned crews against checking bags due to the baggage system fault.

Some flight crews have been advised not to check bags amid a system fault at Europe's busiest airport, aviation news site Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported.

London Heathrow is also the world's second-busiest airport for international flights, behind Dubai, according to travel data provider OAG. On Wednesday, Heathrow announced that it's expecting its busiest-ever December after last month's 6.5 million passengers broke records for November travel.

Responding to customers who reported luggage troubles on Monday and Tuesday, British Airways' X account said the airline faced "baggage disruption" due to issues at Heathrow.

In another post, it said it was "unable to load a number of bags onto flights" on Monday "due to a fault with London Heathrow Airport's baggage system, which was out of our control."

PYOK reported that British Airways also told pilots and cabin crew not to check luggage due to the fault at Terminal 5.

It added that BA told crews the risk of reaching their destination without their bags was too high, and that they should pack essential uniform items and spare clothes in their carry-ons.

The report also said that, in an internal update on Tuesday, Heathrow Airport said that it was still working on "what can be done" to fix the fault.

Business Insider understands that as of Wednesday morning, British Airways passengers were no longer facing baggage issues.

British Airways did not comment when contacted by Business Insider. London Heathrow Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• Flight expert Gilbert Ott shared insights on the best and worst airports for connecting flights.
• Dallas and Los Angeles have some of the best US airports for layovers.
• Atlanta, Georgia, and London are home to some of the worst airports for layovers.

We'd all likely prefer a nonstop flight over a connecting one, as layovers add travel time and opportunities for things to go wrong, from delays to cancellations.

"A lot of the best places worth going to these days do not have direct flights from faraway places," Gilbert Ott, who flies about 200,000 miles a year and shares his insights on his blog, God Save the Points, told Business Insider.

"In any case, you want to be in a place where the airline has a strong presence because you're going to have layers of support," he said.

Still, when it comes to killing time, navigating terminals, and minimizing chances of delays, some airports offer a better layover experience than others.

Ott shared with BI the best airports for layovers, as well as the worst airports for connecting flights.

A variety of upscale lounges and an on-site hotel make Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport one of the best for layovers.

Ott told BI that Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is among the best US airports for layovers thanks to its premium lounges, from Amex Centurion to Delta Sky Club.

"It's one of those places where if you do have a layover and you really need to kill time, there are both top-notch lounges and an airport hotel directly in the terminal," Ott said.

DFW is also home to one of Ott's favorite US airport lounges, Capital One Lounge.

Meanwhile, Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, is small, and there's not much to do there.

Some of the worst airports for layovers are small regional airports.

"I think there's a just inherent advantage to being a big airport because big airports can attract retail," he said.

As an example, Ott mentioned that he often has connecting flights through Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, which has only two runways.

"I've been there a lot. It's not a fun place to wait for flights," he said. "You have nothing to do."

Those with a tight layover may appreciate that Blue Grass Airport has the shortest walk to the gate in the US at just 0.11 miles.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is ideal for shopping between flights.

"I like Seattle-Tacoma Airport because they've done a really good job of cultivating more local stores and Seattle-centric things," Ott said. "If you've got an hour and 45 minutes, it's easy to kill time there."

BI previously reported that the airport's shops pay homage to the Pacific Northwest experience, with stores like Show Pony, Made in Washington, and Discover Puget Sound.

Ott said he'd spent his layovers at the Northwestern airport sifting through records at a music store and sampling Washington state wines at a bar.

"It doesn't feel as sterile and generic as some airports. You actually get a sense of Seattle. It's not just an airport somewhere," Ott said.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has many amenities, but layovers can be brutal due to frequent weather-related delays and cancellations.

No one wants to put their trip on pause over delays and cancellations — especially in a connecting airport.

According to Ott, this may be more likely to happen when flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia due to frequent storms. And the fact that it's the busiest airport in the world probably doesn't help; the airport has had mass cancellations in summers and winters due to storms.

"I've had hellacious experiences in Atlanta because of the weather," Ott said. "It's a good airport in the sense that there are lots of flights and places to kill time. It's a bad airport in the sense that it's caught up in more storms than most airports."

Ott added that the airport has plenty of amenities but can be overwhelming to navigate.

"There are so many terminals, and you're taking a tram everywhere. They have some nice stuff in them, but it's a hike," he said.

Los Angeles International Airport is among the best for connecting flights because it offers easy access to upgraded terminals.

According to Ott, some airports don't allow passengers to travel between terminals they're not departing from.

Since many travelers don't leave the airport between connecting flights, waiting to board can be a drag for those flying out of terminals with few shops, restaurants, and amenities. Ott told BI that international terminals typically have better amenities than domestic ones.

The terminals are connected at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is why it's one of the best US airports for layovers.

Domestic travelers "can still go to the international terminal, which has better food, shops, and lounges," he said. "You can kill time at LAX for hours."

LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) was updated in 2023. BI previously reported that the terminal has comfy seating — each with its own power ports — a range of food and bar options, and an exceptional Sky Club.

The upgrade included adding a walkway connecting Terminal 3, which also received an upgrade, to Terminal B. The walk takes five to 20 minutes, so there's no need to catch a bus. This is an especially useful perk for those catching an international connecting flight.

London Heathrow Airport may be the worst place in the world to have a layover because it's challenging to travel between terminals.

"London Heathrow Airport is an atrocious airport for connections — one of the worst in the world, by far," Ott said. Why? Getting from one terminal to another is a journey in itself.

"Some terminals are miles apart, and there is no tram that runs between all of them," he said.

According to the airport's website, getting from one terminal to another can take more than 40 minutes.

For example, Ott said if you land in Terminal 3 with British Airways, you may connect in Terminal 5.

"You have to go through Terminal 3 and take a bus, which can take up to 30 minutes to arrive. Then, you'll take a long bus ride all around the airport to the other side," he said. "And then you may still end up with another tram or bus ride because Terminal 5 has three terminals within it — A, B, and C."

"It's an impossible airport for short connections," Ott added.

Singapore Changi Airport is the best place to spend a layover. It offers local food, on-site hotels, and a ton of activities.

"For best, Singapore Changi Airport is just untouchable," Ott said.

Ott added that the best airport for layovers worldwide has a range of shops, hotels, dining, and activities.

"Some of the best local food is at the airport because the famous places in Singapore set up locations there," he said.

While waiting for connecting flights, travelers can access a pool, a movie theater, and a butterfly garden.

The real spectacle, however, is probably the Jewel — a retail and entertainment complex connected to Terminal 1. The Jewel seems like a destination itself with a hedge maze, a topiary walk, and a ropes course. And the centerpiece is the Rain Vortex — the world's largest indoor waterfall spanning seven stories.

"You can spend an hour just looking at that," Ott said of the Rain Vortex. "I would have a layover there any day."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can continue using a Seattle airport for chartered deportation flights in a win for incoming President-elect Trump's administration, a federal appeals court ruled.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling rejected a 2019 local executive order that sought to counter then-President Trump’s immigration policies, saying that King County, Washington violated its contract by prohibiting deportations at King County International Airport, which is also known as Boeing Field.

The court ruled that the order was unlawful because it discriminated against ICE and targeted federal operations. In 2019, Trump used Boeing Fields to deport illegal migrants from the U.S. and the local county sought to block the president's removal operations.

MIGRANT ACCUSED OF VIOLENT CRIMES ARRESTED BY ICE AFTER MASSACHUSETTS COURT REFUSED TO HONOR DETAINER

The order prompted ICE to begin using an airport in Yakima, Washington — a much longer drive from ICE’s Northwest detention center— for the deportation flights.

"The relocation increased operational costs due to the greater distance from ICE detention facilities to the airport. It also led to increased security concerns," the ruling noted.

READ THE RULING – APP USERS CLICK HERE

In response, a legal battle with King County ensued. The U.S. in 2020 sued the county, alleging that it violated the terms of a World War II-era contract that guarantees the federal government’s right to use the airport along with discriminating against ICE.

DEM GOVERNOR THREATENS TO USE 'EVERY TOOL' TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST TRUMP-ERA DEPORTATIONS

In a ruling on Friday, Nov. 30, 9th Circuit Judge Daniel A. Bress upheld the court's decision. In the ruling, obtained by Fox News Digital, he wrote that, "this is not a situation in which King County officials are being conscripted into carrying out federal immigration laws on the federal government’s behalf."

"Instead, the United States is asking King County, in its capacity as the owner of a public airport facility, to lift a discriminatory prohibition on private parties’ ability to engage in business with the federal government that supports federal immigration efforts," the ruling states.

The new order also calls for transparency around any deportation flights. 

The airport now offers a conference room where the public can observe deportation flights on a video feed, and the county posts a log of deportation flights from the airport on its website.

The ruling is a win for the incoming Trump administration. The president-elect has vowed to initiate deportation efforts on his first day back in office.

His promise was cemented by his pick of "border czar," Tom Homan. 

"If you don’t want to work with us, then get the hell out all the way. We’re going to do it,’ Homan recently said.

DENVER MAYOR MIKE JOHNSTON SAYS TRUMP'S MASS MIGRANT DEPORTATIONS WILL CREATE ‘TIANANMEN SQUARE MOMENT’

Trump's election has prompted blue city officials to voice their opposition against Trump's deportation efforts. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said that he is prepared to go to jail in opposition to Trump's plans.

The governors of Illinois, Arizona and Massachusetts have said that they also won’t assist the administration in the operation. 

In Illinois, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker promised to uphold sanctuary status, boldly declaring, "If you come for my people, you come through me."

Arizona's Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said her state will not be helping in what she called a "misguided" plan. 

"What I will unequivocally say is that, as governor, I will not tolerate efforts that are part of misguided policies that harm our communities, that threaten our communities, that terrorize our communities, and Arizona will not take part in those," Hobbs said.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey insisted that Massachusetts state police would "absolutely not" help the Trump administration's planned deportations. 

• After years of budget flights with bare-bones amenities, I'm increasingly springing for upgrades
• I often take my tween with me — but when we travel he now expects lounge access and premium seats.
• As a parent, I'm trying hard to keep him grounded with transparency about prices and gratitude.

After boarding a plane on a recent trip, the flight attendant greeted us over the intercom with some humorous words: "Welcome aboard Spirit Airlines. And to those of you who swore you'd never fly us again, welcome back!"

I laughed. My tween son, however, groaned. He'd been disappointed ever since I told him we'd be flying with the budget airline.

And I get it — the flight attendant's statement was an accurate assessment of my feelings about Spirit, which I've sworn off numerous times only to be lured back by attractive pricing and convenient schedule options.

But, like my son, I would much rather be in seats with ample legroom and in-flight amenities.

After decades of scrimping on the journey and instead splurging on the destination, I've found myself upgrading my travel experience and prioritizing comfort more than ever.

These days, I'll pay for lounge access at the airport and invest in premium seating — and, as my frequent travel companion, my 11-year-old is reaping the benefits as well.

But I'm noticing my tween protesting and moaning on the occasions when I choose not to spend extra for these luxuries.

Sometimes I worry that I'm spoiling him too much by exposing him to fancy upsells at such a young age, but I'm also working hard to keep him grounded.

I'm teaching him what upgrades cost and how to balance upscale and affordable experiences

The first time I took my son into an airport lounge, he was hooked.

Chugging down mocktails and loading his pockets with gummy bears, he declared that he never wanted to be stuck sitting on a stiff bench in the dusty terminal ever again. And who could blame him?

Soon, I found myself shopping for credit cards with pricey annual fees that included lounge access, but I stopped short of signing up for any.

Instead, I sat my son down and showed him the costs associated with the lounge lifestyle. Seeing how this figure impacted our overall vacation budget really helped put things in perspective for both of us.

Now when we splurge on lounge visits, we offset the added vacation cost by doing less expensive activities, like hiking, at our destination. Or we save this experience for trips with especially long layovers.

Handling upgrades this way shows my tween that indulging can be great, as long it's done in moderation.

Exploring the world is important to me, but I want my son to understand his privilege

This year, my family took our longest flight yet from Florida to Japan.

Craving comfort for this journey, I splurged for United Premium Plus, which offers recliner-style chairs, bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, and premium dining options.

It was well worth the $300 per person I paid for the upgrade, and it made a noticeable difference in our enjoyment during travel.

After this upgraded experience, it's no surprise that my son is having a hard time going back to flights on budget airlines.

But having the ability to travel at all is a privilege, and I've worked hard to make sure that my son understands that our lifestyle, even when flying economy, is a luxury.

Traveling is important to me, and by exploring the world, my tween is exposed to a wide variety of cultures and sees firsthand a vast disparity of living conditions. This provides additional opportunities for us to discuss — and for him to reflect on — his fortunate circumstances.

I want our family vacations to be relaxing and fun for everyone, including my tween

Hearing my son request lounge access or premium seats feels entitled, but I do think everyone's preferences should be taken into consideration when planning a family vacation.

For me, choosing to pay more for flight upgrades my tween will enjoy is no different from when I splurged on pricey trips to Disney parks when he was little. And because these upsells benefit me, too, I'm even more inclined to agree to them.

I think it's only natural that as my son grows up, his travel wants and needs will continue to evolve. The bigger he gets — and the smaller airline seats become — it makes sense that physical comfort is something that's top of mind for him.

Ultimately, as a parent, I want vacations to feel relaxing.

If travel upgrades leave my family feeling well-rested and ready for adventure when we land, then investing in them is just as valuable as the excursions we book at our destination.

So, even if traveling in style is spoiling my tween, I'll continue to upgrade us whenever it's within our budget.

American Airlines has a new tactic for shaming boarding line cutters: A loud beeper. CNBC reports that the airline is rolling out a system that emits two loud beeps when a traveler tries to get on an airplane before their boarding group is called. As of Wednesday, the new tech was in over 100 airports […]

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• American Airlines is rolling out tech that calls out passengers who try to board before their turn.
• Travelers can expect to see it in action at more than 100 airports this holiday season.
• The new tech also gives staff more info on passengers' connections and boarding groups.

American Airlines is cracking down on passengers who try to sneak their way into an earlier boarding group.

The airline is introducing new technology that helps gate agents catch overeager boarders at more than 100 airports across the country, the company said in a press release Wednesday.

When a flyer tries to board their flight in an earlier boarding group than they're assigned, the gate agent's scanner will recognize the incorrect boarding group and notify them with a special two-tone sound. That alerts the agent to tell the passenger to wait their turn — and could also draw unwanted attention to the passenger.

Boarding groups are designed to allow passengers with more expensive tickets, US military members, and certain airline status-holders to get on the plane earlier than those who haven't earned or bought these benefits.

"We've heard from our customers that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it's a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase," Julie Rath, a senior vice president at the airline, said in the company's press release.

American has tested out this new software over the past month at airports in Tucson, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Washington, DC. The airline said that because it received a positive response from both customers and team members during this trial period, it decided to roll out the tech in time for the holiday travel season.

Flyers can now expect the updates at non-hub airports in cities like Austin, Texas, and Atlanta. The company's hubs — which include airports in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles — will be getting the tech in the coming months, the airline said.

While the crackdown may be bad news for boarding group hoppers, it's likely great news for airline workers. Seasoned travelers, flight attendants, and gate staff say that people crowding the gate before boarding begins or trying to jump the boarding line is one of their biggest pet peeves. They even call some of these passengers "gate lice."

• Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, Uber has come out with a new ride option.
• For those who don't travel light, the UberXXL option comes with "larger trunk space" for more luggage.
• It's available for rides to and from 60 airports worldwide.

For those who don't like to travel light during the holiday season, Uber's new XXL option might be for you.

The ride-hailing company's new ride category comes with "access to larger trunk space," it announced Wednesday.

It's worth noting the UberXXL option is only for trips to and from airports. It's available for more than 60 airports worldwide, including 40 in the US and Canada.

So what's the difference between this and an UberXL, which has been around for years? It boils down to trunk space.

The UberXL option gets riders a van or SUV that seats up to six people. While the new UberXXL choice guarantees trunk space and fits six people, the UberXL option doesn't promise the trunk will be free to load your luggage into.

As part of its updates for the holiday travel season, Uber said eligible Uber One members could get $20 Uber Cash back on an XXL ride until December 1.

Separately, Uber is introducing a widget for iPhone users that lets them book a ride from their home screens with two taps. The widget requires the latest version of iOS and the latest Uber app update.

The Transportation Security Administration expects this year's Thanksgiving travel period to be the busiest on record, in line with passenger volumes already reaching record highs earlier this year. It projects it'll screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday to December 2, an increase of 6% from this time last year.