Jazmin Li
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the busiest airport in the world for 26 out of the past 27 years, with around 108 million passengers using its terminals in 2024. However, the airport briefly lost its top spot in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dubai International Airport is currently the second busiest airport in the world, with 92.3 million passengers in 2024, and is the busiest airport for international passengers. Singapore Changi Airport was ranked the world's best airport in 2025, according to the Skytrax World Airport Awards.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest airport in the world | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Number of passengers in 2024 | 108 million |
| Average daily passengers | 296,076 |
| Number of destinations | Over 200 |
| Number of runways | 4 |
| Second busiest airport | Dubai International Airport |
| Number of passengers in 2024 | 92.3 million |
| Third busiest airport | Dallas Fort Worth International Airport |
| Fourth busiest airport | Tokyo Haneda International Airport |
| Fifth busiest airport | Denver International Airport |
| Seventh busiest airport | Istanbul Airport |
| Eighth busiest airport | Chicago O'Hare International Airport |
| Ninth busiest airport | Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi |
| Tenth busiest airport | Shanghai Pudong International Airport |
| World's best airport | Singapore Changi Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also known as ATL, has been the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998, except for 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel. In 2024, ATL served around 100 million passengers, with an average of around 296,076 passengers passing through each day.
The airport is located around seven miles south of Downtown Atlanta, Georgia, and serves as the primary hub for Delta Air Lines, with over 1,000 daily flights to more than 200 domestic and international destinations. Delta's corporate headquarters and Technical Operations Center, its primary maintenance, repair, and overhaul arm, are also based at Hartsfield-Jackson. In addition to Delta, low-cost carriers such as Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines use the airport as an operating base.
Hartsfield-Jackson has two terminals and seven concourses with approximately 195 gates. To accommodate the high volume of passengers and flights, the airport has undergone multiple expansion projects over the years. This includes the addition of a fourth parallel runway in 1984 and the extension of another runway in 1985. In 1994, Concourse E was opened in preparation for Atlanta hosting the 1996 Summer Olympics. To further enhance its capacity, the airport constructed a fifth runway, making it one of the few airports capable of triple simultaneous landings. The new control tower, built alongside the fifth runway, stands at 398 feet, making it the tallest in the United States.
The airport's convenient geographic location and efficient infrastructure have contributed to its status as a mega-hub, making it a significant gateway to the world for travellers.
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Dubai International Airport
The airport's convenient location at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa has made it an important transit hub for travellers from these regions. It is also the home base of Emirates Airlines, offering connections to 85 countries on six continents. The airport has been voted one of the best in the world several times due to its smart gates, fast Wi-Fi, zen garden, world-class lounges, and sleeping pods.
The history of civil aviation in Dubai dates back to 1937 when an agreement was signed for a flying boat base for Imperial Airways. Dubai International Airport began development in the 1970s to accommodate wide-body aircraft, with plans for a new terminal, runways, and taxiways capable of handling international flights. Expansion continued in the 1980s, with Dubai becoming a stopping point for airlines travelling between Asia and Europe that required refuelling in the Persian Gulf.
While Dubai International Airport is currently one of the busiest airports in the world, a $35 billion project is underway to replace it with the Al Maktoum International Airport by 2034. This new airport is expected to become the world's largest and busiest, surpassing DXB in terms of passengers, cargo, and aircraft movements.
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Tokyo Haneda International Airport
Haneda Airport has a rich history, dating back to the postwar years when it was known as Tokyo International Airport. Initially, the airport lacked a passenger terminal building, but that changed in 1955 when the Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. developed its first passenger terminal. International flight services commenced in 1963, with Air France initiating operations to Haneda in November 1952. Over the years, various airlines, including BOAC, SAS, JAL, Aeroflot, Pan Am, and Northwest Orient, have used Haneda as a hub or stop on their global routes.
In 1978, Haneda Airport shifted its focus primarily to domestic flights within Japan, while Narita International Airport handled most international flights. However, in 2010, Haneda Airport opened a dedicated international terminal (Terminal 3), enabling long-haul flights during the nighttime. This expansion increased the airport's capacity to handle 90 million passengers annually. Haneda Airport's convenient location and efficient facilities have earned it a reputation as the most convenient airport for travellers heading into Tokyo.
Haneda Airport boasts an impressive range of facilities and services. The airport features three domestic terminals and one international terminal, offering various flight routes across Japan and worldwide. Terminal 3 showcases Edo Ko-ji, a street modelled on the Tokyo of samurai days, with authentic Japanese restaurants and a certified vegan option. Terminals 1 and 2 also offer an array of dining choices, including upscale Japanese restaurants and cafes, alongside approximately 160 shops. Duty-free shopping is available in Terminal 3, particularly at Gates 109-114, and Terminal 2 features the Haneda Virtual Boutique for fashion enthusiasts.
Additionally, Haneda Airport provides a fully functioning post office located in the Market Place on the first floor of Terminal 1, with mailboxes available in Terminals 2 and 3. The airport also offers car rental services from over a dozen agencies, accessible near Terminals 1 and 2. For aviation enthusiasts, the observation decks offer captivating views of aircraft, and the Japan Airlines facilities provide an intriguing tour option. With its combination of convenient location, efficient facilities, and diverse offerings, Haneda Airport is undoubtedly one of the busiest airports in the world.
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Denver International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the busiest airport in the world since 1998, except in 2020 when travel was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Denver International Airport (DEN), often referred to as DIA by locals, is also one of the busiest airports in the world. At 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi; 135.7 km2), it is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest on Earth in terms of land area. The airport is located 23-25 miles (37-40 km) northeast of Downtown Denver, which is 15-19 miles (24-31 km) farther away than Stapleton International Airport, the airport DEN replaced.
Denver has traditionally been home to one of the busier airports in the United States because its central location made it ideal for an airline hub. Several airlines, notably United Airlines and Continental Airlines, had hubs at the former Stapleton International Airport, making it the sixth-busiest airport in the country by the 1960s. However, Stapleton had little room for expansion and its runways were too close together, leading to long delays and nationwide travel disruptions in bad weather. From 1980 to 1983, the Denver Regional Council of Governments investigated areas for a new airport north and east of Denver. The land that DEN now occupies was transferred from Adams County to Denver after a 1989 vote, increasing the city's size by 50% and making the airport a practical exclave.
DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $47.2 billion for the region annually. The airport has one terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, named after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen, and three midfield concourses with 169 gates in operation as of early 2025. The Jeppesen Terminal features 2.6 million square feet of space and its internationally recognised peaked roof, designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects, resembles snow-capped mountains. In 2023, the airport announced a plan to significantly increase passenger capacity by expanding the Jeppesen Terminal by 2045 with additional check-in and TSA counters, as well as new concourses with 100 more gates.
Concourse A is accessible via a pedestrian bridge directly from the terminal building and offers views of the Rocky Mountains to the west and the high plains to the east. For access to Concourses B and C, passengers must take the underground train system that services all three concourses. All international arrivals without border pre-clearance are processed in Concourse A, which also has four 3-jetway international gates that can support the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8, the two largest commercial aircraft in the world. On 30 April 2025, DEN welcomed the Airbus A380 for the first time for regular commercial service operated by Lufthansa.
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Istanbul Airport
The airport is designed to be a world-class aviation hub, with advanced technologies and a vast capacity. In its first phase, the airport can accommodate 90 million passengers annually, with two pairs of parallel runways, eight parallel taxiways, and a substantial apron space of 4,000,000 square metres. The airport also boasts an indoor car park with a capacity of 12,000 vehicles. When fully expanded, Istanbul Airport will have four terminal buildings, interconnecting rail access, and a total indoor area of 3,200,000 square metres. It will be able to serve up to 200 million passengers yearly, making it the world's biggest airport in terms of passenger capacity.
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Frequently asked questions
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world, with around 108 million passengers using its terminals in 2024.
Dubai International Airport is the second busiest airport in the world, with 92.3 million passengers in 2024. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is third, with a 17% increase in passengers from 2019 to 2024.
Heathrow Airport in London, England, is the busiest airport in Europe.
Tokyo Haneda International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and is the primary base for airlines like Japan Airways and All Nippon Airways.
Heathrow Airport in London has the most international connections in the world.
