The year 2024 marked a significant shift in global aviation, with airline capacities growing steadily as air travel continued its post-pandemic recovery. Airports worldwide experienced a surge in passenger numbers, reflecting increased demand for both domestic and international flights. This analysis, based on OAG Data, presents a detailed ranking of the world’s busiest airports, highlighting key trends and insights that define aviation in 2024.
From Atlanta’s dominance to Dubai’s strategic expansion, this report explores the top-performing airports across global, international, and regional categories. Let’s dive into the rankings and understand how the aviation landscape evolved in 2024.
Busiest Global Airports in 2024
The world’s top airports saw remarkable growth in 2024, with Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) leading the rankings. Here’s a look at the top 10 busiest global airports, ranked by total airline capacity (including both domestic and international flights):
Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World (2024)
| Rank | Airport Code | Airport Name | City/Location | Total Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATL | Hartsfield-Jackson | Atlanta | 62,743,665 |
| 2 | DXB | Dubai | Dubai | 60,236,220 |
| 3 | HND | Haneda | Tokyo | 55,204,580 |
| 4 | LHR | Heathrow | London | 51,553,190 |
| 5 | DFW | Fort Worth | Dallas | 51,516,707 |
| 6 | DEN | Denver | Denver | 49,218,244 |
| 7 | CAN | Baiyun | Guangzhou | 48,852,986 |
| 8 | IST | Istanbul | Istanbul | 48,517,967 |
| 9 | PVG | Pudong | Shanghai | 48,503,741 |
| 10 | ORD | O’Hare | Chicago | 46,992,360 |
Key Highlights of Global Airports
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) remains the world’s busiest airport, handling 62.7 million seats, with a 2% increase from 2023.
- Dubai International Airport (DXB) secures second place with 60.2 million seats, experiencing a 7% year-over-year growth.
- Tokyo Haneda (HND) ranks third, surpassing its 2019 numbers by 1%, reflecting Japan’s aviation recovery.
- Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) recorded the highest growth (29%), indicating China’s strong aviation comeback.
- Denver International Airport (DEN) showed 24% growth compared to 2019, demonstrating North America’s increasing air traffic.
Busiest International Airports in 2024
The following airports dominated international passenger traffic, highlighting the most connected global hubs of 2024.
Top 10 Busiest International Airports
| Rank | Airport Code | Airport Name | City/Location | Seats (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DXB | Dubai International | Dubai | 60,236,220 |
| 2 | LHR | London Heathrow | London | 48,358,450 |
| 3 | ICN | Seoul Incheon | Seoul | 41,633,831 |
| 4 | SIN | Singapore Changi | Singapore | 41,530,309 |
| 5 | AMS | Amsterdam Schiphol | Amsterdam | 39,998,853 |
| 6 | IST | Istanbul | Istanbul | 38,636,958 |
| 7 | CDG | Paris Charles de Gaulle | Paris | 38,482,460 |
| 8 | FRA | Frankfurt International | Frankfurt | 35,736,533 |
| 9 | HKG | Hong Kong International | Hong Kong | 34,607,000 |
| 10 | DOH | Doha International | Doha | 32,455,882 |
Key Insights from International Airports
- Dubai International Airport (DXB) remains the busiest international airport, growing 7% from 2023 and 12% above 2019.
- Seoul Incheon (ICN) and Singapore Changi (SIN) showed strong growth, with Seoul jumping from 7th to 3rd place.
- Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) recorded a 40% increase, the highest among the top 10, indicating a major rebound after pandemic-related restrictions.
- Doha International Airport (DOH) saw 13% growth, reinforcing Qatar’s rising role as an aviation hub.
Busiest European Airports in 2024
Europe’s major airports witnessed steady growth, with London Heathrow (LHR) leading the rankings.
Top 10 Busiest European Airports
| Rank | Airport Code | Airport Name | City/Location | Seats (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LHR | London Heathrow | London | 51,553,190 |
| 2 | IST | Istanbul | Istanbul | 48,517,967 |
| 3 | CDG | Paris Charles de Gaulle | Paris | 42,080,518 |
| 4 | AMS | Amsterdam Schiphol | Amsterdam | 40,004,242 |
| 5 | FRA | Frankfurt International | Frankfurt | 39,631,163 |
| 6 | MAD | Madrid Barajas | Madrid | 38,146,041 |
| 7 | BCN | Barcelona | Barcelona | 31,824,302 |
| 8 | FCO | Rome Fiumicino | Rome | 30,486,201 |
| 9 | MUC | Munich | Munich | 26,738,742 |
| 10 | LGW | London Gatwick | London | 25,500,205 |
Key Trends in European Aviation
- London Heathrow (LHR) remains the busiest in Europe, with a 4% growth from 2023.
- Istanbul Airport (IST) saw a 15% increase compared to 2019, proving its importance as a major global hub.
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO) experienced the strongest growth (21%), surpassing its pre-pandemic capacity.
- Munich International Airport (MUC) remains 16% below 2019 levels, indicating a slower recovery.
The 2024 aviation landscape highlights a global recovery, with airports across Asia, North America, and the Middle East experiencing substantial growth. Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Istanbul International Airport (IST) stand out as key international hubs, while Shanghai Pudong (PVG) shows the strongest growth among the top 10 busiest airports. European airports display mixed trends, with Rome and Istanbul thriving, while Frankfurt and Munich continue to recover from pre-pandemic levels.
These rankings offer valuable insights into global air travel demand, with increasing capacity indicating a positive outlook for the aviation industry. As passenger numbers grow, airport expansions and infrastructure developments will play a crucial role in shaping the future of air travel.
