Lois Larson
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the world's busiest airport by passenger number since 1998, except for 2020 when travel was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, it served over 104.6 million passengers. However, Dubai International Airport has been gaining on Atlanta's lead, and as of April 2025, it is the world's busiest international airport. Other busy airports include London Heathrow, Singapore Changi, and Tokyo International.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest airport in the world | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Location | Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia |
| Number of passengers in 2023 | 104.6 million |
| Number of seats | 5.2 million |
| Second busiest airport in the world | Dubai International Airport |
| Number of seats | 5 million |
| Busiest airport in Europe | London Heathrow Airport |
| Number of seats | 4.4 million |
| Second busiest airport in Europe | Istanbul Airport |
| Number of seats | 4.2 million |
| Busiest airport in India | Indira Gandhi International Airport |
| Busiest airport in Colorado | Denver Airport |
| Number of passengers in 2023 | 77.8 million |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
The airport is the corporate headquarters and primary hub of Delta Air Lines, with over 1,000 flights daily to 225 domestic and international destinations. It is also a base for Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Hartsfield–Jackson provides international service to North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. The airport has a capacity of 5.2 million seats and is designed to accommodate up to 55 million passengers annually.
Hartsfield–Jackson has undergone significant expansion and development over the years. In 1984, a fourth parallel runway was added, and another runway was extended. To cater to the growing international air traffic, Concourse T's southern extension opened in 1987, followed by the opening of Concourse E in 1994. In 1999, the airport's leadership launched the "Focus On the Future" Development Program, encompassing multiple construction projects to prepare for a projected demand of 121 million passengers in 2015.
Buses Running Between Atlanta Airport and City
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dubai International Airport
In 2023, Dubai International Airport handled a staggering 87 million passengers, 1.81 million tonnes of cargo, and registered 416,405 aircraft movements. The airport's capacity is 90 million passengers annually, and as of January 2024, it serves over 262 destinations with more than 8,000 weekly flights operated by 100 airlines. Dubai International Airport is also the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements, and it boasts the highest average number of passengers per flight.
Emirates Airline has its hub at Dubai International Airport, with its own Terminal 3, which includes three concourses shared with Flydubai. The Emirates hub is the largest airline hub in the Middle East, handling 51% of all passenger traffic and contributing to approximately 42% of aircraft movements at the airport. Low-cost carrier Flydubai is also based at the airport, managing 13% of passenger traffic and 25% of aircraft movements.
The airport has continually expanded and upgraded its facilities to accommodate growing demand and larger aircraft. In the 1970s, a new terminal building, control tower, and various runway extensions were constructed to enable the handling of wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 747. Dubai International Airport continues to invest in infrastructure, installing the largest solar energy system in the region's airports in 2019 as part of Dubai's goal to reduce its energy consumption by 30% by 2030.
A Tricky Landing: Navigating Nepal's Airport Challenges
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Traffic [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81bSBV-V1tL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Heathrow Airport, London
Heathrow Airport in London is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system. Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport, a title it has held since 2019. In April 2025, the airport had a seat capacity of 4.4 million, a 3% increase compared to the previous year. In 2022, Heathrow was named Britain's busiest airport, with a daily passenger limit of 100,000.
Heathrow's high passenger numbers have caused travel chaos, with staff shortages, long lineups at security, lost luggage, and lengthy flight delays. In the summer of 2022, Heathrow capped its daily passenger numbers, asking airlines to stop selling tickets to reduce the impact on passengers. The airport also warned airlines that they may need to cut more flights from their summer schedules to reduce the strain. Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye stated that airlines should take further action to ensure passengers have a "safe and reliable journey".
Heathrow is not the busiest airport in the world, which is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. However, London has the world's busiest city airport system by passenger count. Heathrow is the second busiest airport in the world by seat capacity, with 4.1 million seats, behind Dubai International Airport with 5 million seats.
Heathrow Airport has been working to improve its infrastructure and technology to accommodate the high number of passengers. Heathrow has also been recruiting to address staff shortages, aiming to have security staffing at pre-pandemic levels by the end of July 2022.
Lagos' Airport Count: How Many Are There?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Traffic (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81+c3Lbw+3L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Traffic [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91uK8hKaoDL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Tokyo International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world by passenger number. However, Tokyo International Airport, also known as Haneda Airport, is one of the busiest airports in the world. Located in Ōta, Tokyo, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Tokyo Station, Haneda Airport covers 1,522 hectares (3,761 acres) of land.
Haneda Airport is one of two international airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area, the other being Narita International Airport. It serves as the primary domestic base for Japan's two largest airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, as well as several other airlines. In 2018, Haneda Airport handled 87,098,683 passengers, making it the third busiest airport in Asia and the fourth busiest in the world by passenger throughput. In 2020, it was named the World's Best Domestic Airport and the second-best airport overall, after Singapore's Changi Airport.
Haneda Airport has a long history, dating back to the 1950s when it became the primary international airport serving Tokyo. Initially, it primarily handled domestic flights, with Narita handling most international flights. However, in 2010, Haneda Airport opened a dedicated international terminal, allowing long-haul flights to operate during the night. This expansion increased its capacity to 90 million passengers per year.
Today, Haneda Airport offers a range of services and facilities for passengers, including shopping and dining options. It has also received recognition for its high standards, ranking highly in the Skytrax World's Top 100 Airports and receiving first place in three categories in the 2025 International Airport Assessment.
Shanghai's Airport: A Gateway to China's Prosperity
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Denver Airport
Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2023, it was the sixth busiest airport in the world and the third busiest in the United States, serving around 77.8 million passengers, a 12.3% increase from 2022. Notably, July 2023 was the airport's first month with over seven million passengers. Denver International Airport has consistently ranked among the top 20 busiest airports globally every year since 2000.
Located 23-25 miles northeast of Downtown Denver, the airport covers 52.4 square miles of land, making it the largest commercial airport area-wise in North America. It is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating over $36 billion for the region annually. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for Frontier and Southwest Airlines. It offers non-stop service to over 215 destinations across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Denver International Airport has one terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, and three midfield concourses with a total of 169 gates as of early 2025. Concourse A is accessible via a pedestrian bridge or an underground train system, which also connects Concourses B and C. International arrivals without border pre-clearance are processed in Concourse A, which has four 3-jetway international gates supporting the two largest commercial aircraft in the world: the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747-8.
To accommodate increasing passenger traffic, the airport has laid out plans to expand its infrastructure. By 2045, it aims to add four new concourses and 100 more gates, supporting its goal of serving over 125 million passengers annually.
Canadian Airports: TSA PreCheck Availability and Benefits
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, is the world's busiest airport. The airport has held this title every year since 1998, except in 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected passenger traffic.
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport serves as a major hub for Delta Air Lines and offers convenient connections to the city via highways, rail, and the MARTA rapid transit system. Notably, most of the airport's arrivals and departures are from domestic flights.
Yes, Dubai International Airport is often described as being close behind Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in terms of passenger traffic. Other busy airports include London Heathrow Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, and Tokyo International Airport.
Yes, factors such as the number of terminals, runway capacity, and the efficiency of air traffic control systems can influence airport traffic. Additionally, the presence of major airline hubs and convenient transportation connections to and from the airport can also play a role.
