World's Busiest Airport: Where Is It?

which is the worlds busiest airport

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, is the world's busiest airport. It has held this position since 1998, except for 2020 when its passenger traffic dipped due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Atlanta regained the top spot in 2021 and has maintained it since, with 108 million passengers in 2024. Dubai International Airport ranks second, with 92 million passengers, and is a hub for 106 international airlines.

Characteristics Values
Name of the airport 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

Hartsfield-Jackson is the corporate headquarters and primary hub of Delta Air Lines. It operates just over 1,000 flights daily to 225 domestic and international destinations. The Delta hub is the world's largest airline hub and is considered America's first mega-hub. The airport is also a base for Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.

The airport has international service within North America and to Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. It 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.

To accommodate the significant increase in air traffic, a new midfield terminal complex was constructed in 1977 under the administration of Mayor Maynard Jackson. The complex cost $500 million and was designed by Stevens & Wilkinson, Smith Hinchman & Grylls, and Minority Airport Architects & Planners. The airport was renamed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2003 to honour former mayor Maynard Jackson.

In 1984, a fourth parallel runway of 9,000 feet was completed, and another runway was extended to 11,889 feet the following year. Concourse T opened in 1987, and Concourse E in 1994, with the former being converted to domestic flights. In 1999, Hartsfield-Jackson's leadership established the "Focus On the Future" Development Program, which included multiple construction projects to prepare the airport for a projected demand of 121 million passengers in 2015.

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Dubai International Airport

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 features a hotel, business centre, health club, dining and entertainment facilities, and more. The Dubai Flower Centre also opened in 2005 to cater to the city's flower import and export industry.

Dubai Airports has made navigation easier for passengers by renaming concourses: Concourse 1 (over 100 international airlines) is now Concourse C, Concourse 2 is Concourse B, and Concourse 3 is Concourse A. The airport is rapidly expanding, with plans to enhance passenger experiences through advanced technologies, reduce wait times, and maximise shopping opportunities.

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Shanghai's Pudong International Airport

Pudong Airport serves both international flights and a smaller number of domestic flights, while Shanghai's other major airport, Shanghai–Hongqiao, mainly serves domestic and regional flights in East Asia. 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 is also the hub for privately owned airlines Juneyao Air and Spring Airlines. Additionally, it serves as an Asia-Pacific cargo hub for FedEx, UPS, and DHL, with the DHL hub being the largest express hub in Asia.

Pudong Airport is a fast-growing hub for both passenger and cargo traffic. In 2024, the airport handled 3,440,084 metric tons of cargo, making it the world's third-busiest airport by cargo traffic. In 2023, it served a total of 54,476,397 passengers, making it the sixth-busiest airport in Asia and the twenty-first busiest in the world. It is also the busiest international gateway to mainland China, with about half of its total passenger traffic being international.

The construction of Pudong Airport began in October 1997 due to the inability to expand the Hongqiao Airport to meet growing demand. The first phase of construction took two years to complete at a cost of RMB 12 billion (US$1.67 billion). The airport officially opened on 1 October 1999, with Terminal 1 and a 4,000-metre (13,000 ft) runway. Terminal 1 has a capacity of 20 million passengers and features 204 check-in counters and thirteen luggage conveying belts.

In recent years, Pudong Airport has seen a significant surge in passengers, driven by the resumption of international flights and visa policy expansion. This surge led to its rapid rise in rankings from the 21st busiest airport in 2023 to the 10th busiest in 2024.

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New Delhi's airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport, with 108 million passengers in 2024. However, New Delhi's airport has been steadily climbing the ranks of the world's busiest airports. Known as Indira Gandhi International Airport, it is located in the heart of India, in the capital city of Delhi. Delhi Airport serves as a gateway to India for many travellers, offering a range of services and facilities for a smooth and enjoyable journey.

In 2024, global air travel reached 9.5 billion passengers, a significant increase from the previous years, and Delhi's airport played a crucial role in accommodating this surge. Between 2019 and 2024, New Delhi's airport jumped from 28th to 7th place in the annual rankings of Airports Council International, a remarkable rise.

Indira Gandhi International Airport has a rich history, with its roots tracing back to World War II when it served as a base for the Royal Indian Air Force. Over the years, the airport has undergone significant transformations to meet the growing demands of air travel. In 2005, the airport faced record disruptions due to fog and smog, leading to improved pilot training for low-visibility operations. To enhance capacity, a larger Terminal 3 was constructed and inaugurated in 2010, increasing the airport's total passenger capacity by 34 million.

Delhi Airport offers a seamless travel experience with efficient baggage handling, comfortable lounges, duty-free shopping, diverse dining options, and convenient transportation services. It also boasts sustainable initiatives, becoming India's first airport to run entirely on hydropower and solar energy in 2022. Additionally, the airport supports various social initiatives, such as the GMRVF programme, which empowers women and specially-abled children through education, health, and community development.

With its continuous improvements, focus on passenger comfort, and commitment to sustainability, New Delhi's airport is not just a busy transportation hub but also a testament to India's thriving aviation industry.

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London's airport system

London is served by six international airports and several smaller airports. These airports form the busiest airport system in the world by passenger numbers and the second-busiest by aircraft movements. In 2018, the six airports handled a total of 177,054,819 passengers, handling over 60% of all the UK's air traffic.

Heathrow Airport is by far the largest of London's airports and is considered the main gateway into the United Kingdom for non-European visitors. Heathrow has four terminals and two parallel runways, and is located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London. Heathrow is the third busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger numbers, after Atlanta and Beijing–Capital, and is the busiest airport in Europe. Heathrow serves six continents and is the base for British Airways in Terminal 5. Heathrow is also London's long-distance hub and is the most popular arrival point for flights from the United States. Heathrow has seen a large increase in cargo-only flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

London Gatwick Airport is another of London's major airports. It is located south of Central London and can be reached by train in 30 minutes from London's Victoria Railway Station.

London Stansted Airport is London's third-busiest airport, and the fourth busiest in the United Kingdom. It is located in Essex and is the largest operational base for Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost carrier. Stansted serves more scheduled European destinations than any other airport in the UK, as well as some further afield.

London Luton Airport is within easy reach of central London and is popular with budget travellers. Luton Airport Parkway railway station can be reached from London St Pancras in as little as 22 minutes via East Midlands Railway.

London City Airport is the closest airport to central London, located in the Docklands, four miles from Canary Wharf. The airport has a single, very short runway, and a steep approach at a 5.5° angle. It is often used by business travellers, with many flights serving destinations across the UK and northern Europe. The airport cannot easily be expanded due to its location and is the only airport serving London that does not operate at night.

London Southend Airport is another of London's six major airports, with practical guides available for travel to central London.

Frequently asked questions

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, is the busiest airport in the world.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport served 108 million passengers in 2024.

Dubai International Airport is the second busiest airport in the world, with 92 million passengers in 2024.

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