Ruth Haines
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, is the busiest airport in the world. It has held this position for 26 out of the past 27 years, with the exception of 2020 when travel restrictions were imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the airport saw 108 million passengers, ranking first among the world's top 10 busiest airports, which collectively transported 855 million passengers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| City with the busiest airport | Atlanta |
| Name of the airport | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Number of passengers in 2024 | 108 million |
| Number of non-stop destinations | 150 |
| Number of continents served | 6 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Atlanta: World's busiest airport
Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world's busiest airport. It has held this position for a quarter of a century. In 2024, the airport saw 108 million passengers, 6 million more than second-place Dubai International Airport.
The airport's success is due in part to its location between North America, Europe, and Latin America, making it an ideal connecting hub for domestic and international travellers. Hartsfield-Jackson offers an impressive 150 non-stop destinations across six continents.
However, being the world's busiest airport comes with challenges. In May 2025, all flights were grounded due to an equipment outage. This caused delays to at least 410 flights and cancellations to five.
Despite these challenges, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport remains the world's busiest, and one of four US airports in the global top ten.
Lexington Airport: Size, Scale, and Scope Explored
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dubai: Second busiest airport
Dubai International Airport is the second busiest airport in the world, with 92 million passengers in 2024. Dubai's airport has held this ranking thanks to its strategic location between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The airport is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the busiest airport in the Middle East. Dubai International Airport is also the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements, and the airport with the highest average number of passengers per flight.
The airport is situated in the Al Garhoud district, 2.54 nautical miles (4.7 km; 2.92 mi) east of the city centre of Dubai and covers an area of 2,900 hectares (7,200 acres) of land. Terminal 3 is the third-largest building in the world by floor space and the largest airport terminal globally. The airport has two runways, with the first opening in 1960 and the second in 1965.
Dubai International Airport has seen strong recovery and growth in its customer base, with annual passenger numbers reaching 66 million in 2022. The airport's growth outpaced the annual forecast, with a robust fourth quarter. In 2014, the airport contributed over US$26.7 billion to Dubai's economy, representing around 27% of Dubai's GDP and 21% of employment in the city.
Dubai is planning to expand its newest airport, Dubai World Central—Al Maktoum International (DWC), with an anticipated passenger capacity of 260 million. DWC will supersede Dubai International Airport (DXB) and become the world's largest and busiest airport in terms of passengers, cargo, and aircraft movements once its expansion is completed by the scheduled deadline of 2035. Al Maktoum International Airport will be five times larger than DXB, with five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates.
SFO Airport: Which State Does It Belong To?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Staffing issues at airports
As of May 2025, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic, serving as a major hub for domestic and international travel. However, this busy airport, like many others around the world, often faces significant staffing challenges.
Additionally, the working hours at airports can be unconventional, with many positions requiring shift work, overnight hours, and coverage during peak travel times. These factors can contribute to high levels of job stress and burnout, leading to a higher turnover rate compared to other industries. Airports also face competition from other industries that offer similar roles with potentially better pay and working conditions. For example, jobs in logistics, transportation, and customer service may be more appealing to potential candidates due to perceived advantages in work-life balance or career progression.
To address these staffing issues, airports need to implement strategic measures. This includes investing in comprehensive training programs to upskill existing staff and attract new talent. Offering competitive salaries and benefits packages that rival other industries can also help retain staff. Additionally, creating a positive work environment with supportive work-life balance initiatives can reduce turnover rates.
Another strategy is to foster strong relationships with local communities and educational institutions to develop talent pipelines. Through internships, apprenticeships, and targeted recruitment drives, airports can engage and nurture potential employees, ensuring a steady stream of skilled workers. Ultimately, addressing staffing issues at airports requires a multifaceted approach that considers the unique challenges of the industry. By investing in their workforce and creating attractive, sustainable employment opportunities, airports can ensure smooth operations and deliver a positive travel experience for passengers.
Brooklyn's Airport: A Gateway to New York's World
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Newark Airport: Delays and cancellations
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport, with 108 million passengers in 2024. Four out of the top ten busiest airports globally are in the US.
Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the nation's busiest airports, has been experiencing significant delays and cancellations. On April 28, air traffic controllers at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control, responsible for managing planes in and out of Newark, faced a communications blackout, losing radar and all contact with pilots. While the Transportation Secretary cited the duration as 30 seconds, other reports claim it lasted for 90 seconds—a terrifying amount of time when it comes to aviation safety. This incident, along with air traffic controller staffing shortages, ageing technology, adverse weather conditions, and the closure of one of the airport's busiest runways, has resulted in hundreds of delayed and cancelled flights. The Federal Aviation Administration has been working to address these issues, implementing measures such as improving telecommunications and deploying backup systems.
The shortage of air traffic controllers is a critical issue at Newark Airport. This problem is not unique to Newark, as airports across the country have faced similar challenges for years. The dangers of understaffing in air traffic control became starkly apparent following the midair collision between a US Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet in January, which tragically killed 67 people. An investigation into the crash will scrutinize the potential role of air traffic controllers in the incident. Notably, the Trump administration had initiated layoffs of FAA employees before the crash, excluding controllers and other critical safety personnel, as part of a federal cost-cutting initiative.
The issues at Newark Airport highlight the broader challenges facing the aviation industry as it struggles to keep up with surging air traffic surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Staffing crises, technological failures, and aircraft incidents have disrupted operations at airports worldwide. Newark's situation underscores the urgent need to improve the nation's air traffic control system and address underlying issues to prevent similar disruptions from occurring at other airports.
As of May 21, 2025, Newark Liberty International Airport continues to experience some delays. Departures and arrivals are subject to gate hold and taxi delays of 15 minutes or less, while incoming flights are facing airborne delays of 15 minutes or under.
Booking Airport Shuttle Rides: Easy and Stress-Free
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Air traffic control issues
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport, with 108 million passengers in 2024. However, air traffic control issues are not unique to Atlanta. Many airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport, have faced significant challenges due to air traffic control staffing shortages, ageing technology, and other factors.
The US air traffic control system has faced criticism for its years of neglect, including underinvestment in infrastructure and delays in modernizing technology. The impact of these issues was felt acutely at Newark Airport, where air traffic controllers were responsible for sequencing and separating planes. The situation at Newark prompted Senator Chuck Schumer to call for a full investigation to prevent similar problems from spreading to other airports in the nation.
The air traffic control staffing shortage is not limited to Newark. The transport department's inspector general found that out of the 26 most critical airports in the nation, 20 had staffing levels below the recommended 85% minimum. This has resulted in controllers working extensive hours and, in some cases, taking ""trauma leave" due to the stressful nature of their work. The shortage of controllers is not a new issue, with industry experts and consultants noting that it has persisted for years, if not decades.
To address the issues in the US air traffic control system, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has proposed replacing antiquated telecommunications infrastructure with modern fiber, wireless, and satellite technologies. While this proposal has been applauded by airlines and the air traffic controllers' union, some industry experts remain sceptical, citing past plans that have fallen short of solving the problem. Nonetheless, with air traffic continuing to surge past pre-pandemic levels, addressing these air traffic control issues is crucial to ensuring safe and efficient travel.
Airports in Philadelphia: How Many Are There?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, is the busiest airport in the world. It has held this position every year since 1998, except in 2020 due to travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport serves as a connecting hub for domestic and international travellers due to its position between North America, Europe, and Latin America. It also has 150 non-stop destinations across six continents.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the world's busiest international airport for long-haul travel and the second busiest airport overall. Other busy airports include London's airport system, which is the busiest in the world by passenger count, and airports in Chicago, Istanbul, and Tokyo.
