World's Busiest Airport: Where Is It?

where is the worlds busiest airport

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic. In 2024, the airport saw 108 million passengers, a position it has held since 1998, except for 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic were in place. Dubai International Airport ranks second, with 92 million passengers, and 106 international airlines flying into the hub.

Characteristics Values
Name Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Location Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia
Number of Passengers in 2024 108 million
Number of Non-Stop Destinations 150 in six continents
Ranking in 2020 2nd

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Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

The airport is located mostly in unincorporated areas of Clayton County but extends into the city limits of Atlanta, College Park, and Hapeville, in territory extending into Fulton County. It began with a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres of land that was once an abandoned auto racetrack named The Atlanta Speedway. The lease was signed on April 16, 1925, with the first flight into Candler Field taking place on September 15, 1926.

The airport has undergone several name changes over the years. It was originally named Candler Field after former Atlanta mayor Asa Candler, the owner of the land. The name was changed to Atlanta Airport in 1971, and then to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport in the same year to reflect the growth of international flights to and from Atlanta. In 1994, Concourse E opened in preparation for Atlanta hosting the 1996 Summer Olympics.

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Dubai International Airport

In 2024, the airport handled over 92 million passengers, 2.2 million tonnes of cargo, and registered over 440,000 aircraft movements. Dubai International Airport is the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements and the airport with the highest average number of passengers per flight. It is served by over 100 international airlines, reflecting Dubai's growing importance as a centre for business and investment.

The airport has undergone several extensions and upgrades over the years, including the opening of Terminal 2 in 1998 and Concourse 1, named the Sheikh Rashid Terminal, in 2000. Concourse 1 is 800 metres long and connects to the check-in area via a 300-metre tunnel with moving walkways. It offers a range of facilities, including a hotel, business centre, health club, dining and entertainment options, and a prayer room. The airport also features palm-lined walkways, boutique shopping, dining options, sleep pods, and spa treatments.

Dubai Airports has made navigation easier by renaming concourses, with Concourse 1 becoming Concourse C, Concourse 2 becoming Concourse B, and Concourse 3 becoming Concourse A. The airport is currently undergoing a $35 billion expansion, aiming to enhance passenger experiences through advanced technologies like facial recognition and a focus on reducing wait times.

In 2014, the airport contributed over US$26.7 billion to Dubai's economy, representing around 27% of the city's GDP and 21% of employment. Dubai International Airport is expected to be superseded by Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) by 2035, making DWC the world's largest and busiest airport in terms of passengers, cargo, and aircraft movements.

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Shanghai's Pudong International Airport

Pudong Airport is the main hub for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines and a significant international hub for Air China and a secondary hub for China Southern Airlines. It also serves as the hub for privately-owned Juneyao Air and Spring Airlines. In addition, it is the Asia-Pacific cargo hub for FedEx, UPS, and DHL, with the DHL hub being the largest express hub in Asia. The airport currently has four runways, with two primarily used for landing and the other two for takeoff. Terminal 1, which opened in 1999, is shaped like a seagull and has a capacity of 20 million passengers. It features 204 check-in counters, thirteen luggage conveying belts, and covers an area of 280,000 square metres (3,000,000 square feet).

To accommodate increasing passenger traffic, construction on an additional satellite concourse facility began in 2015 and was completed in September 2019. This new facility, the largest stand-alone satellite airport terminal building in the world, provides additional gates and terminal space. It can handle 38 million passengers annually through 90 departure gates across two concourses, S1 and S2. Both concourses are connected to the existing T1 and T2 terminals by an underground Shanghai Pudong Airport APM, including the East and West Lines. Pudong Airport is connected to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport by the Shanghai Metro Line 2 and the Shanghai Maglev Train via the Pudong Airport Terminal 1 & 2 station.

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New Delhi Airport

New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) has been ranked as the 9th busiest airport in the world for 2024 by the Airports Council International (ACI). This ranking is based on total passenger traffic, including both domestic and international travellers. The airport has experienced a surge in non-stop international flights, connecting New Delhi to major destinations across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. This enhanced connectivity has made the airport a popular transit point and a major arrival destination for global travellers.

The airport's success is attributed to its continued focus on modernisation and expansion. Recent developments include the expansion of Terminal 1, the construction of additional taxiways, and the introduction of advanced AI-based services and digital boarding systems. These upgrades have improved operational efficiency, reduced wait times, and facilitated the seamless management of increasing passenger numbers.

The recognition of New Delhi Airport as one of the world's busiest airports has significant implications for India. It enhances the country's global stature, encourages tourism and foreign investments, and fosters stronger airline partnerships. India's rapid economic growth is reflected in the aviation sector's development, with Delhi Airport serving as a gateway to the country for international travellers.

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport has emerged as a key player in global air travel, surpassing several major airports across Europe and Asia. The airport's strategic connectivity and efficient operations have solidified its position as a prominent travel hub, contributing to India's growing presence in the aviation industry.

The airport's ranking as the 9th busiest in the world underscores its commitment to service excellence and its focus on sustainability, technology, and infrastructure development. With continued investments in these areas, Delhi Airport is poised to become an even more dominant force in global air travel, shaping the future of aviation in India and beyond.

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London's city airport system

London is served by six international airports and several smaller airports, constituting the busiest airport system in the world by passenger numbers. In 2018, these airports handled a total of 177,054,819 passengers. London City Airport is one of the six international airports in London. It is located in the Royal Docks in the Borough of Newham, about six miles (ten kilometres) east of the City of London and three to four miles (five kilometres) east of Canary Wharf. These are the two centres of London's financial industry, which is a major user of the airport. The airport was developed by the engineering company Mowlem between 1986 and 1987.

London City Airport has a single 1,508-metre-long (4,948 ft) runway, with a steep approach at a 5.5° angle. Owing to its proximity to London's Docklands and financial district, the airport's primary users are business travellers with destinations such as Luxembourg and Frankfurt. However, the number of leisure destinations served, such as Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, and Chambéry, has increased in recent years. In 2023, plans were approved to increase the passenger cap at London City Airport from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers, with an increase in the number of morning flights between 06:00 and 09:00.

London City Airport is the fifth-busiest airport by passengers and aircraft movements serving the London area, after Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton. It was the 14th busiest airport in the UK in 2017. Only multi-engine, fixed-wing aircraft up to the size of Embraer E195-E2, Airbus A220, and A318 are allowed to operate at London City Airport due to strict noise limitations and other restrictions. The largest aircraft currently operating from the airport is the Airbus A220-100, which completed its first commercial flight from Zürich in August 2017.

In April 2023, London City Airport became the first major UK airport to drop the 100-millilitre liquid rule, allowing passengers to carry up to 2 litres of liquids in their carry-on luggage. In the same year, the airport made plans to extend the terminal building, construct additional aircraft parking stands, build a new taxiway, and replace the existing fuel farm with a more efficient system supplied by barge.

Frequently asked questions

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia.

108 million passengers.

The Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the busiest airport in the world since 1998, except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dubai International Airport, with 92 million passengers in 2024.

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