In 2024, global passenger numbers surpassed 2019 levels after years of turmoil from the massive disruption caused by pandemic Covid-19, with further growth forecast for 2025, according to preliminary global airport data released today by the Airports Council International (ACI World), showing the world’s busiest airports.
Based on figures from ACI, which represents the interests of 2,181 airports in 170 countries, the number of passengers worldwide in 2024 would reach around 9.5 billion, an increase of 3.8% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and an increase of 9% compared to 2023.
In 2025, global passenger traffic is forecast to reach 9.9 billion, growing at 4.8% compared to 2024.
The world’s busiest airport is again Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The Delta Air Lines hub in Georgia’s capital has held the top spot for 26 of the last 27 years, and just in 2020 it slipped from the top spot as passenger traffic declined.
The No. 2 airport, Dubai International Airport, was ranked the second busiest airport in the world for the first time in 2023 and retained that position in the latest ranking of the top 10 airports.
At No. 3, traffic at Dallas International Airport, Fort Worth, increased 17% in 2024 from 2019 levels and increased more than 7 percent from 2023 levels. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and London’s Heathrow – often ranked in the top 10 – were ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
At No. 6, Denver International Airport serves as an example of strong passenger volume at U.S. hubs, with growth of more than 19% from 2019 passenger levels and an increase of nearly 6% by 2023.
Istanbul Airport, in Turkey, and New Delhi Airport, in India – at Nos. 7 and 9, respectively – “have grown due to airline expansion, infrastructure development and enhanced global connectivity,” according to an ACI World press release.
In 8th place, passenger volume at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is still down about 5% from 2019 levels (about 8% from 2023), but growing further, according to ACI World general manager Justin Erbacci.
Rounding out the top 10 in the 2024 rankings is Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which made the biggest “jump” in the rankings, moving up from 21st place in 2023 to 10th place, with an impressive 41% increase in traffic.
The airport’s significant “jump” is due to “expanded visa policies, the resumption and expansion of international flights, operational improvements and the recovery of the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China,” according to ACI World.
The top 10 busiest airports, representing 9% of global traffic (855 million passengers), have seen an 8.8% increase from 2023 and an 8.4% increase compared to their 2019 results (789 million passengers in 2019).
The other firsts
Hong Kong International Airport remained the top airport in terms of cargo traffic, followed by Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Memphis International Airport.
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport topped the ranking of airports with the highest aircraft movements, followed by Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Dallas’ Fort Worth International Airport.
The 10 busiest airports in the world with the highest passenger traffic in 2024
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL): 108.1 million passengers – 3.3% growth by 2023
2. Dubai (DBX): 92.3 million passengers – up 6.1% from 2023
3. Dallas Fort Worth (DFW): 87.8 million passengers – up 7.4% from 2023
4. Tokyo Haneda (HND): 85.9 million passengers – an increase of 9.1% from 2023
5. London Heathrow (LHR): 83.9 million passengers – up 5.9% from 2023
6. Denver (DEN): 82.4 million passengers – an increase of 5.8% from 2023
7. Istanbul (IST): 80.1 million passengers – an increase of 5.3% from 2023
8. Chicago O’Hare (ORD): 80 million passengers – up 8.3% from 2023
9. New Delhi (DEL): 77.8 million passengers – an increase of 7.8% from 2023
10. Shanghai Pudong (PVG): 76.8 million passengers – up 41% from 2023
