Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) continues to assert its dominance in the aviation industry, serving over 108 million passengers in 2024, according to the latest data from Airports Council International (ACI) World. This impressive figure marks a 3.3% increase compared to 2023, although it still trails 2.2% below pre-pandemic levels, indicating that while recovery is on the rise, there’s still ground to cover.
ATL and DXB: A Busiest Airport Comparison
Inspired by its robust passenger numbers, ATL fortifies its status as a pivotal hub for Delta Air Lines and international travelers alike. In contrast, Dubai International Airport (DXB) follows as the second-busiest airport globally, accommodating 92.3 million passengers in 2024. The third place, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), can also boast impressive figures, having welcomed nearly 88 million travelers. The rankings among the top ten airports have remained stable from 2023, showcasing their ongoing significance in global air travel.
Resurgence of China: Shanghai Pudong’s Rise
The most striking newcomer among the world’s busiest airports is Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), which has catapulted from 21st to 10th place, experiencing a remarkable 41% increase in passengers compared to the previous year. This surge enabled Shanghai to oust Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) from the coveted top ten, signaling a robust revival of air travel in China amidst a global recovery.
| Ranking | Airport | 2024 Passenger Count | Change vs 2023 | Change vs 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) | 108,067,766 | +3.3% | -2.2% |
| 2 | Dubai International Airport (DXB) | 92,331,506 | +6.1% | +6.9% |
| 3 | Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | 87,817,864 | +7.4% | +17.0% |
| 4 | Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) | 85,900,617 | +9.1% | +0.5% |
| 5 | London Heathrow Airport (LHR) | 83,884,572 | +5.9% | +3.7% |
| 6 | Denver International Airport (DEN) | 82,358,744 | +5.8% | +19.3% |
| 7 | Istanbul Airport (IST) | 80,073,252 | +5.3% | +53.4% |
| 8 | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | 80,043,050 | +8.3% | -5.4% |
| 9 | New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) | 77,820,834 | +7.8% | +13.6% |
| 10 | Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) | 76,787,039 | +41.0% | +0.8% |
Dubai: The King of International Traffic
Shifting gears to international passenger counts, DXB remains unrivaled, capturing the top spot for international travel for the 11th consecutive year. With all traffic coming from international flights, Dubai solidifies its position as a global travel nexus. Following DXB are London Heathrow and Seoul Incheon, both grappling with increasing international passenger volumes, with Heathrow and Incheon welcoming over 79 and 70 million international travelers respectively.
| Ranking | Airport | 2024 International Passenger Count | Change vs 2023 | Change vs 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai International Airport (DXB) | 92,331,506 | +6.1% | +7.0% |
| 2 | London Heathrow Airport (LHR) | 79,194,339 | +5.7% | +4.1% |
| 3 | Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) | 70,669,246 | +26.7% | +0.1% |
| 4 | Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) | 67,063,000 | +14.8% | -0.8% |
| 5 | Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) | 66,822,849 | +8.0% | -6.8% |
| 6 | Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) | 64,469,356 | +5.0% | -7.7% |
| 7 | Istanbul Airport (IST) | 62,975,429 | +8.1% | +59.1% |
| 8 | Frankfurt Airport (FRA) | 56,185,219 | +3.9% | -10.9% |
| 9 | Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) | 52,949,047 | +34.4% | -25.7% |
| 10 | Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) | 52,714,976 | +14.8% | +35.9% |
Global Trends in Air Travel
In a broader perspective, 2024 witnessed nearly 9.5 billion passengers taking to the skies, marking a nine percent increase from the previous year and exceeding pre-pandemic figures by 3.8%. Within this, the top ten busiest airports accounted for around nine percent of global air traffic, emphasizing their critical roles in international connectivity.
Despite numerous challenges potential obstacles—such as supply chain issues, geopolitical tensions, and inflation—the growth in global passenger numbers indicates resilience and pent-up demand. This poses a positive outlook for the aviation sector in the upcoming years.
“Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines,” remarked Justin Erbacci, Director General of ACI World. He recognized the crucial roles these hubs play in global trade and connectivity, highlighting the anticipation of further traffic growth as part of future projections which estimate a rise to 9.9 billion passengers by 2025, and an astonishing 19 billion in the next two decades.
Even amid uncertainties, the prospect for growth within the aviation industry remains bright. However, ongoing concerns such as tariffs and disruptions threaten to impact international travel demand significantly.
