Here are the 15 busiest airports in the world
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is, once again, the busiest airport in the world. But even it hasn't fully returned to 2019 levels.
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July 8, 2025
10:05 AM
CNBC
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is, once again, the busiest airport in the world
However, Dubai International Airport cessed the most international passengers
Passenger traffic hit a record high in 2024, with some 9. 4 billion people traveling by air
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is, once again, the busiest airport in the world
The airport, which is Delta Air Lines' largest hub, cessed more than 108 million passengers in 2024, according to a report published today by Airports Council International World
However, that's still some 2% fewer passengers than the airport cessed in 2019
The number of passengers at the second-busiest airport in the world — Dubai International Airport — climbed nearly 7% last year from pre-pandemic levels, the ranking showed
The airport also tops a separate list that analyzes airports that cess the most international passengers
In 2024, some 92. 3 million passengers — all international — passed through its doors
In 2024, global passenger traffic hit a record high, with some 9. 4 billion people traveling by air, according to the report. 4% more passengers than in 2023, and 2. 7% more than in 2019, it said
The busiest airports in the world, by total passengers, are:1
Atlanta, USA (ATL) – 108. 1 million2
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB) – 92. 3 million3
Dallas/Fort Worth, USA (DFW) – 87. 8 million4
Tokyo, Japan (HND) – 85. 9 million5. (LHR) – 83. 9 million6. (DEN) – 82. 4 million7
Istanbul, Turkey (IST) – 80. 1 million8
Chicago, U. (ORD) – 80 million9
New Delhi, India (DEL) – 77. 8 million10
Shanghai, China (PVG) – 76. 8 million11
Los Angeles, U. (LAX) – 76. 6 million12
Guangzhou, China (CAN) – 76. 4 million13
Incheon, Korea (ICN) – 71. 2 million14
Paris, France (CDG) – 70. 3 million15
Singapore (SIN) – 67. 7 millionThe busiest airports in the world, by international passengers, are: 1
Dubai, UAE (DXB) – 92. 3 million2. (LHR) – 79. 2 million3
Incheon, Korea (ICN) – 70. 7 million4
Singapore (SIN) – 67. 1 million5
Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) – 66. 8 million6
Paris, France (CDG) – 64. 5 million7
Istanbul, Turkey (IST) – 63 million8
Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) – 56. 2 million9
Hong Kong (HKG) – 52. 9 million10
Doha, Qatar (DOH) – 52. 7 million11
Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) – 50. 3 million12
Madrid, Spain (MAD) – 48. 7 million13
Taipei, Taiwan (TPE) – 44. 7 million14
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL) – 41. 9 million15
Barcelona, Spain (BCN) – 40. 7 millionIn addition to Dubai International Airport, other airports that are cessing significantly more passengers than in 2019, include:Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – No. 3 (from No. 10 in 2019)Denver International Airport (DEN) – No. 6 (from No. 16)Istanbul Airport (IST) – No. 7 (from No. 28)Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) – No. 9 (from No. 17)The United States has six airports in the top 20 list
For the first time since the pandemic, three airports in China — Shanghai (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), and Beijing (PEK) — are back in the top 20 ranking
Despite ranking among the world's busiest airports, major airports in seven cities have yet to see the number of pre-Covid passengers return, including Atlanta (-2. 2%), Chicago (-5. 4%), Los Angeles (-13%), Paris (-7. 7%), Singapore (-0. 9%), Beijing (-32. 6%), Amsterdam (-6. 8%) and Bangkok (-4
Global passenger traffic is forecast to grow to 9. 9 billion in 2025, despite persistent industry challenges related to economic uncertainty, geopolitical airspace closures and aircraft manufacturing delays, Airports Council International said. —CNBC's Kaela Ling contributed to this report
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