The Busiest Airports: Where Is The World's Hub?

The world's busiest airports are measured by total passengers, including those enplaned, deplaned, and in direct transit. The busiest airport in the world is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, which has been the busiest airport every year since 1998, except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retained its top position, followed by Dubai International Airport, which jumped to second place for the first time.

Annual passenger numbers

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, is the busiest airport in the world by annual passenger numbers. It has held the top spot every year since 1998, except in 2020 when its passenger traffic dipped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the airport served 104.6 or 104.7 million passengers, according to different sources.

The second busiest airport in the world by annual passenger numbers is Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, which served 86.9 million passengers in 2023, according to one source. However, another source states that the airport was the busiest in December 2024 with 5.3 million seats.

The third busiest airport in the world by annual passenger numbers is Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, which served 81.7 or 81.8 million passengers in 2023, according to different sources.

The fourth busiest airport in the world by annual passenger numbers is London Heathrow Airport, which served 79.2 million passengers in 2023.

The fifth busiest airport in the world by annual passenger numbers is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, which served 78.7 million passengers in 2023.

The sixth busiest airport in the world by annual passenger numbers is Denver International Airport, which served 77.8 million passengers in 2023.

The seventh busiest airport in the world by annual passenger numbers is iGA Istanbul Airport, which served 76.2 million passengers in 2023.

The eighth busiest airport in the world by annual passenger numbers is Los Angeles International Airport, which served 75.1 million passengers in 2023.

The ninth busiest airport in the world by annual passenger numbers is Chicago O'Hare International Airport, which served 73.9 million passengers in 2023.

The tenth busiest airport in the world by annual passenger numbers is Indira Gandhi International Airport in India, which served 72.2 million passengers in 2023.

Location

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, has been the world's busiest airport every year since 1998, except for 2020, when its passenger traffic dipped due to travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Atlanta regained the top position in 2021 and has held it since. The airport is located on a 19km2 site that once housed an abandoned racetrack and is now home to the tallest air traffic control tower in North America. Its central location within a two-hour flight of 80% of the US population and its role as a connecting hub have contributed to its sustained popularity.

Dubai International Airport, the second busiest airport in the world, is located in the United Arab Emirates. The airport's central position between Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region, along with the UAE's significant investment in tourism, has made it a popular connecting hub for international flights. Dubai International Airport features three large terminals and two runways, both over 4,300 meters long. The airport opened in 1960, serving only a few destinations, but has grown significantly alongside the expansion of the UAE.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the third busiest airport, is located in Texas, United States. It is situated across two counties, covering 69.6km2, making it the second-largest airport by land in the US. The airport is known for being the first "carbon neutral" airport in North America. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is a significant connecting hub for flights across the Americas, offering numerous nonstop destinations.

Tokyo Haneda International Airport, the fifth busiest airport in the world, is located in Japan. The airport is positioned on a 15.2km site featuring four runways and three passenger terminals. Haneda opened in 1931 with a small 300-meter runway and a single terminal, which has since expanded multiple times.

Denver International Airport, the sixth busiest airport, is located in Colorado, United States. Covering an area of 137.8km2, it is the largest airport site in North America and the second-largest in the world. Despite having just one terminal, the airport boasts an impressive 169 gates and five runways, including the longest commercial runway in North America.

Other airports in the top ten busiest in the world include Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Illinois, Los Angeles International Airport in California, iGA Istanbul Airport in Turkey, London Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, and Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India.

History

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the world's busiest airport every year since 1998, except for 2020 when its passenger traffic dipped due to travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Atlanta regained the top position in 2021 and has held it since.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport opened in 1926 at an abandoned racetrack. It has been one of the busiest airports in the US throughout its history and was rivalling the popular New York and Chicago airports by the end of the 1930s.

The airport has two terminals and five runways across a 19km2 site that is home to the tallest air traffic control tower in North America. It is within a two-hour flight of 80% of the US population and acts as a connecting hub, which has helped it to sustain its popularity.

In 2023, the airport recorded 104,653,451 departures and arrivals. This was an increase of 76.4% from 2021, though it has yet to reach its record of 11 million passengers seen in 2019.

In 2024, Dubai International Airport overtook Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to become the world's busiest airport. Dubai has a strong recovery from the pandemic, when its traffic dropped by 79%. It has also benefited from the UAE's significant investment in tourism and its position as a connecting hub for flights between Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region.

In 2023, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was the third busiest airport in the world. It is the largest "carbon neutral" airport in North America and the second-largest airport by land in the US.

In 2022, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was the fourth busiest airport in the world, with a total of 73,362,946 passengers. It is the largest hub for American Airlines.

In 2022, Denver International Airport was the fifth busiest airport in the world, with a total of 69,286,461 passengers. It is the fifth busiest airport in the US and the world's largest aviation market.

In 2022, Chicago O'Hare International Airport was the second busiest airport in the world, with a total of 68,340,619 passengers. It is one of the most significant transportation hubs in the US.

In 2022, Dubai International Airport was the fifth busiest airport in the world, with a total of 66,069,981 passengers.

In 2022, Los Angeles International Airport was the sixth busiest airport in the world, with a total of 65,924,298 passengers. It is a gateway to multiple international destinations, particularly in Asia and the Pacific.

In 2022, iGA Istanbul Airport was the seventh busiest airport in the world, with a total of 64,289,107 passengers.

In 2022, London Heathrow Airport was the eighth busiest airport in the world, with a total of 61,614,508 passengers. Heathrow is one of six airports serving London and has the most international connections in the world.

In 2022, Indira Gandhi International Airport was the ninth busiest airport in the world, with a total of 59,490,074 passengers. It is the primary airport for India's capital city, New Delhi.

In 2022, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport was the tenth busiest airport in the world, with a total of 57,474,033 passengers. It is the principal airport serving the French capital, Paris, and the largest international airport in France.

Airlines served

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic. It has held the top spot every year since 1998, except for 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its passenger traffic.

The airport has a vast network of airlines serving both domestic and international destinations. Here is a detailed overview of the airlines served by Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport:

Delta Air Lines:

Delta Air Lines is the largest carrier at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with a vast domestic and international network. The airline offers flights to numerous destinations across the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami. Additionally, Delta provides international services to Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East.

Southwest Airlines:

Southwest Airlines is a significant presence at ATL, operating a large number of flights to destinations across the United States. The airline has an extensive network covering major cities such as Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, and Orlando. Southwest also offers international flights to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

American Airlines:

American Airlines, one of the major US carriers, has a strong presence at ATL. The airline offers an extensive domestic route network, connecting Atlanta to cities like Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Additionally, American Airlines operates international flights to Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

United Airlines:

United Airlines, another major US carrier, also serves ATL with a range of domestic and international flights. They provide connections to their hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, and Washington, D.C., as well as international destinations in Europe and Asia.

Other Airlines:

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is served by a host of other airlines, including:

• Frontier Airlines: Focuses on budget-friendly flights to domestic destinations.
• Spirit Airlines: Offers low-cost travel options to various US cities.
• JetBlue Airways: Provides services to destinations across the US and the Caribbean.
• British Airways: Operates long-haul international flights to London, connecting Atlanta to Europe and beyond.
• Lufthansa: German carrier offering flights to Frankfurt and beyond.
• Air France: Connects Atlanta to Paris and other European cities.
• Korean Air: Provides services to Seoul and other Asian destinations.

The airport's diverse range of airlines and destinations has contributed to its status as the world's busiest airport, catering to a vast number of passengers each year.

Service quality

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. It has held this title every year since 1998, except in 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dip in passenger traffic.

The airport has two terminals and five runways across a 19km² site. It is located within a two-hour flight of 80% of the US population, which contributes to its popularity as a connecting hub.

In terms of service quality, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has won several awards. It has consistently been recognised as one of the best airports in North America by the Airports Council International (ACI) based on passenger satisfaction ratings in the ASQ Survey. The ACI survey is a global survey based on interviews with passengers on the day of travel.

Additionally, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been recognised as one of the best airports in the world by Skytrax, receiving the World Airport Award. This award, along with the ASQ, is considered one of the most prestigious accolades in the industry.

The airport's ability to sustain its popularity and achieve high passenger satisfaction ratings despite its large volume of travellers each year speaks to its efficient management and quality of service.

Frequently asked questions