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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has been the world's busiest airport for 26 out of the last 27 years. In 2024, it served about 108 million passengers, a 3.3% increase from 2023. However, this was still about 2% below its 2019 passenger volume. London Heathrow Airport (LHR), on the other hand, was ranked 5th in 2024, serving 83.9 million passengers. While Atlanta Airport is focused on expanding to accommodate more passengers, Heathrow holds the record for the most expensive slots, with Kenya Airways selling its slot to Oman Air for $75 million in 2016.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest airport in the world for passengers in 2022 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Number of passengers in 2022 | 93,699,630 |
| Number of passengers in 2024 | 108 million |
| Busiest airport in London | Heathrow International Airport |
| Number of passengers at Heathrow in 2024 | 83.9 million |
| Number of passengers at Heathrow in 2023 | 79.6 million |
| Most expensive slots for airlines | Heathrow International Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has been the busiest airport in the world for 26 out of the last 27 years. In 2024, the airport served about 108 million passengers, an increase of 3.3% from 2023. This number is still about 2% below the airport's pre-pandemic 2019 volume.
The airport's substantial jump in passenger numbers was driven by "expanded visa policies, the resumption and expansion of international flights, operational enhancements, and the recovery of the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China," according to ACI World.
The airport is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and is the home base and megahub of Delta Air Lines. It has held the top position in Airports Council International's annual rankings of the world's busiest airports since 2021.
While Atlanta's airport is the busiest in the world in terms of passenger traffic, it is not the largest airport in terms of area. King Fahd International Airport near Dammam, Saudi Arabia, is the largest airport in the world by area, covering 780 square kilometers or about 300 square miles.
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Heathrow is the busiest airport in London
Heathrow Airport is one of the world's busiest airports for international travel. It is Europe's busiest airport, and in 2025, it had its busiest January on record, with over 6.3 million passengers, a 5% increase from the previous year. Heathrow is also the busiest airport in London.
In March 2025, a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused the closure of Heathrow Airport, disrupting global travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers. The airport said it would begin flights for passengers stranded when their flights were diverted to other airports in Europe and get airplanes back to Heathrow. Heathrow hoped to be in full operation by Saturday, but anticipated ""significant disruption over the coming days". At least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow were affected, and passengers were told not to travel to the airport until it reopened.
Heathrow's backup power supply worked as expected, but it was insufficient to run the entire airport. The fire took seven hours to control, leading to criticism that the UK was ill-prepared for a disaster or attack if a single fire could shut down Europe's busiest airport.
In 2024, Heathrow was ranked as the fifth busiest airport in the world, serving 83.9 million passengers. However, this number was still a 5.9% increase from 2023.
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Heathrow has the most expensive slots for airlines
Heathrow Airport in London is one of the busiest airports in the world. It is the largest airport in the United Kingdom and has global flight connections. Heathrow is the main airport serving London, which many regard as one of the greatest cities in the world.
Heathrow operates at almost 100% capacity, and it is incredibly challenging for any airline to obtain a slot. Without a slot, it is impossible to launch a flight to or from the airport. Since a UK High Court ruling in 1999, Heathrow slots can be resold on the secondary market. Airlines can also sell to ''outsiders'' (airlines that have never operated at Heathrow), but this is usually on a lease basis. Heathrow slots are one of the most fiercely competitive, secretive, and difficult purchases an airline will ever make.
The value of each slot pair varies by time of day. Early morning slot pairs are highly valued due to their convenience for business travellers and connecting passengers. An early morning slot pair was reported to be worth around £15 million, while a standard evening slot pair can be one of the largest assets on an airline's balance sheet, valued at around £5 million. In 2016, Oman Air set a record by paying £58 million for a pair of early morning take-off and landing slots.
British Airways is the biggest holder of slots at Heathrow, with over 50% of those available. It has expanded its portfolio through secondary slot trading and remains Heathrow's most dominant player. Virgin Atlantic is in second place with fewer than 400 slots.
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Atlanta airport is expanding to accommodate more passengers
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport. In 2024, it served about 108 million passengers, retaining its No. 1 position for 26 of the last 27 years.
To accommodate more passengers, Atlanta Airport has embarked on an ambitious expansion project, ATLNext, with a $7.5 billion 2030 Master Plan. The plan includes expanding and improving airport facilities and infrastructure to meet the anticipated growth in passenger and air traffic volume.
One of the key components of the expansion project is the widening of Concourse D, which was launched in September 2023. This phase of the project aims to modernize and widen the concourse while keeping it operational during the day. To achieve this, 19 prefabricated modules are being built at a modular construction site adjacent to the airport and installed at night. The expansion will increase seating by 1,000 seats, double the size of hold rooms, and allow for larger-capacity jets.
In addition to the concourse widening, the ATLNext Master Plan also includes projects such as new concourses (terminals), terminal modernization, parking deck expansion, and the development of a hotel and travel plaza. The program entails landside, terminal, and airside facility renewal, replacement, and modernization to meet increasing demand.
By investing in these expansion and improvement projects, Atlanta Airport is positioning itself to retain its top spot as the world's busiest airport and provide a more efficient and pleasant experience for travellers.
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Heathrow is ranked fifth in the world's busiest airports
Heathrow Airport in London, England, is ranked fifth in the world's busiest airports. While it is one of the busiest airports, it is not as busy as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which has been the world's busiest airport since 1998, except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, Atlanta Airport served about 108 million passengers, while Heathrow served 83.9 million.
London Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe, and in 2025, it was ranked 15th in the world's best airports. However, it did not receive any awards. The only airport in the Americas to make the list was Vancouver International Airport, which was ranked 13th.
Dubai International Airport is another airport that is busier than Heathrow. In 2023, it became the second busiest airport in the world and retained its ranking in 2024. Dubai Airport served 92.3 million passengers in 2024, while Heathrow served 83.9 million.
Tokyo Haneda International Airport is also busier than Heathrow. It served 85.9 million passengers in 2024, a 9.1% increase from 2023. Heathrow, on the other hand, served 83.9 million passengers in 2024, a 5.9% increase from the previous year.
While Heathrow is ranked fifth among the world's busiest airports, it is important to note that the rankings are based on total passenger traffic, which includes passengers enplaned, deplaned, and direct-transit passengers. Heathrow handles a significant number of passengers and has a large impact on aviation in Europe and worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world's busiest airport, serving 108 million passengers in 2024. London Heathrow, on the other hand, served 83.9 million passengers in 2024.
Atlanta Airport served about 26 million more passengers than Heathrow in 2024.
Atlanta Airport has been the world's busiest airport every year since 1998, except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Heathrow, on the other hand, has consistently ranked among the top five busiest airports worldwide.
Atlanta Airport's high ranking is due to several factors, including its location, serving nearly 20 million more passengers than the next closest international airport in the region. Additionally, the airport has experienced a substantial increase in traffic due to expanded visa policies, the resumption and expansion of international flights, operational enhancements, and the recovery of the Asia-Pacific region.
Atlanta Airport is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025 and is known for its comfortable amenities, private suites, and dedicated customs and security. Heathrow Airport, on the other hand, is recognised for its expensive slots, with some selling for as much as $75 million.
