ATL Still World’s Busiest Airport, Shanghai Pudong Jumps Into Top 10

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) remained the busiest passenger airport in the world in 2024, maintaining a wide lead over No. 2 Dubai International Airport (DXB), even as the Delta Air Lines hub is still handling fewer passengers than before the pandemic.

According to Airports Council International World (ACI), ATL processed 108.1 million passengers in 2024, up 3.3% year-over-year, but still down 2.2% from 2019. ACI released preliminary figures on April 14 for its annual top 10 busiest airports list, which remained mostly unchanged from the organization's 2023 rankings.

The top 10 busiest airports collectively represent 9% of global passenger traffic, handling a combined 855 million passengers in 2024, up 8.8% year-over-year and up 8.4% over 2019, according to ACI.

DXB clocked in again as the second-busiest airport, handling 92.3 million passengers in 2024, up 6.1% over 2023 and up 6.9% over 2019. DXB held its position as the world’s busiest airport in terms of international passengers in 2024 with 100% of its passengers flying internationally.

According to DXB, 2024 marked the busiest year in its history, with the year’s passenger traffic surpassing 89.1 million passengers handled in 2018. “This record-breaking performance was driven by sustained growth throughout the year, capped by an extraordinary final quarter,” DXB said.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, American Airlines’ base hub, was third on ACI’s list at 87.8 million passengers, up 7.4% over 2023 and up 17% over 2019.

Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) jumped past London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to be fourth busiest, up one spot from 2023. HND handled 85.9 million passengers in 2024, up 9.1% year-over-year and up 0.5% from 2019. LHR dropped from fourth to fifth, processing 83.9 million passengers last year, up 5.9% over 2023 and up 3.7% over 2019.

Denver International Airport again came in sixth place on ACI’s top 10 list, processing 82.4 million passengers, up 5.8% over 2023 and up 19.3% over 2019.

Istanbul Airport (IST) placed seventh for the second straight year, handling 80.1 million passengers, up 5.3% over 2019 and up 53.4% over 2019. IST was only the 28^th-busiest airport in the world in 2019, the lowest of any airport on the 2024 top 10 list.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport moved from ninth to eighth, processing 80 million passengers last year, up 8.3% over 2023, but down 5.4% from 2019. New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) placed ninth, up one spot from 2023. DEL handled 77.8 million passengers in 2024, up 7.8% over 2023 and up 13.6% over 2019.

Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) broke into the top 10 in 2024 after being just the 21^st-busiest airport in the world in 2023. PVG processed 76.8 million passengers in 2024, up 41% year-over-year and up 0.8% over 2019.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) dropped out of the top 10, falling slightly behind PVG. LAX processed 76.6 million passengers in 2024, up 2% year-over-year. 

ACI said the top 10 airports demonstrated “resilience in navigating global uncertainty” in 2024, adding, “despite geopolitical and economic challenges, these airports have successfully held their top rankings, positioning themselves for continued growth.” 

ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci said the airports on the top 10 list “are vital arteries of trade, commerce and connectivity.”

Following DXB as the busiest international airports were LHR (79.2 million international passengers, up 5.7% year-year); Seoul Incheon (70.7 million, up 5.7%); Singapore Changi (67.1 million, up 14.8%); Amsterdam Schiphol (66.9 million, up 8%); Paris Charles de Gaulle (64.5 million, up 5%); IST (63 million, up 8.1%); Frankfurt (56.2 million, up 3.9%); Hong Kong (52.9 million, up 34.4%); and Doha (52.7 million, up 14.8%).

Overall, airports globally handled 9.5 billion passengers in 2024, up 9% over 2023 and 104% of 2019 levels, according to figures recently released by ACI. Global passengers will reach 9.9 billion in 2025, ACI forecasts, which would be up 4.8% over 2024.

Top spot holder ATL is under new leadership. Ricky Smith, formerly the CEO of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, took over as ATL’s general manager earlier this month.