Michael Markieta, a Toronto geographic information systems consultant, has mapped out global flight patterns. The United States, Europe and East Asia are by far the brightest areas because of the large number of "short-haul flights," aviation consultant John Strickland told the BBC.
"Europe looks so bright because it has so many short-haul flights. It's also one of the busiest global markets and there are several hubs in relatively close proximity in Europe: Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and London," Strickland said. "You can very clearly make out American hubs like Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Denver - there's a saying in the US that whether you go to heaven or hell, you have to go via Atlanta."