Busiest Airports in the World

Airports serve as critical gateways, connecting diverse geographies and cultures, facilitating commerce, and embodying our shared desire to explore new horizons. Unsurprisingly, airport passenger traffic data is a reliable barometer of global mobility and economic activity. Examining the world's busiest airports, quantified by the total yearly passengers using data from Airports Council International, offers an insightful lens into the ebb and flow of global travel. This count includes travelers boarding (enplaned), travelers disembarking (deplaned), and those transiting through these international aviation hubs.

• The United States dominates the list, with the top four busiest airports worldwide, and 19 out of the top 50. This demonstrates the nation's central role in global air travel and reflects the country's geographical size and population.
• Aside from the United States, eight countries have two or more airports in the top 50. France, Germany, India, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom each have two airports, while Turkey scores higher with three airports.
• Geographically, the top 50 airports are distributed across global regions, with North America boasting 22 airports, Europe having 11, while Southeast Asia and West Asia each have five. South Asia, East Asia, and South America each contribute two, and Oceania is represented with one airport - the Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
• Among non-US airports, the Dubai International Airport ranked the highest at the 5th position with 66.1 million passengers, highlighting the United Arab Emirates' central role as a global connector, especially for long-haul flights.
• The data showcases robust passenger traffic at the Istanbul Airport (64.3 million passengers), indicating Turkey's rising prominence in global aviation, reflecting its strategic geographical location connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.

When considering any airport's total yearly passengers, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport leads the pack with a colossal 93.7M passengers in a year. This reaffirms its longstanding status as the world's busiest airport, a mark of high passenger mobility it has held since 1998, with an exception in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next on the list is Dallas/Fort Worth International, welcoming 73.4M travelers in a year, another notable example of the United States' dominance in airport passenger traffic.

Denver International and Chicago O'Hare International follow closely with 69.3M and 68.3M passengers, respectively.

Positioned as the fifth busiest airport in the world and the busiest outside the United States, Dubai International served 66.1M passengers in one year, underlining its function as a vital connecting node for global long-haul flights.

Los Angeles International, closely following Dubai, managed to serve 65.9M passengers annually, attesting to the airport's vital role in connecting the US with the world.

Among the top ten busiest airports, Turkey's Istanbul Airport stands out, serving a formidable 64.3M passengers, reflecting the country's strategic location as a significant global aviation hub.

Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom's primary international airport, falls next in line with 61.6M passengers, solidifying its status as a crucial junction for international air travel.

India’s Indira Gandhi International Airport catered to 59.5M passengers, supporting its rank in the top ten, while wrapping up the list is France's Charles de Gaulle Airport, handling 57.5M passengers annually.

10 Busiest Airports in the World:

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International - 93.7M
2. Dallas/Fort Worth International - 73.4M
3. Denver International - 69.3M
4. Chicago O'Hare International - 68.3M
5. Dubai International - 66.1M
6. Los Angeles International - 65.9M
7. Istanbul Airport - 64.3M
8. Heathrow Airport - 61.6M
9. Indira Gandhi International Airport - 59.5M
10. Charles de Gaulle Airport - 57.5M