Explore the World’s 10 Busiest Airports
Airports are spaces of freedom, they are the starting point for many trips and adventures. They were all very busy before the crisis we are going through, but what are the busiest airports in the world?
The Airports Council International (ACI) publishes an annual classification of the busiest airports in the world based on data from more than 175 countries. Airport traffic is measured by the total number of passengers.
ACI estimates that the world’s 10 busiest airports handled some 863,420,02 passengers in 2019, 1.5% more than in 2018. The ranking of the busiest airports remains relatively unchanged from year to year. Atlanta, Beijing, Dubai or even Paris… discover in this article the 10 busiest airports in 2019.
Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World by Passenger Number
1. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (United-States) : 110,531,300 passengers
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world.
Number of passengers in 2019: 110,531,300
Number of passengers in 2018: 107,394,029
Why is Atlanta Airport the Busiest Airport in the World?
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of the state of Georgia. With a population of 506,811 as of 2020, the city is far from being the most populous in the United States, it ranks only 37th in the ranking of most popular cities. So, why is the Atlanta Airport the most busiest airport in the world ?
Atlanta has the busiest airport in the world due to its convenient location. Located on the east coast of the United States, less than two hours flight time from 80% of the American population, this airport is a global air traffic hub, it’s a gateway to all of North America. Atlanta Airport is a connected airport for many passengers from all around the world.
Atlanta Airport is also the hub of Delta Air Lines. This company is the largest in the world in terms of revenue and the second in terms of carried passengers. These two factors make Atlanta the busiest airport in the world.
2. Beijing Capital International Airport (China) : 100,011,438 passengers
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the second busiest airport in the world.
Number of passengers in 2019: 100,011,438
Number of passengers in 2018: 107,394,029
Why is Beijing Capital Airport the Second Busiest Airport in the World?
Beijing, previously known as Peking, is the capital of the People’s Republic of China. This city of 20 million people is one of the largest and oldest cities in the world.
Beijing Capital Airport is the hub of Air China, China’s largest airline. Often described as the flag-carrier of China, it links all of the biggest Chinese cities to capitals around the world.
Beijing Capital Airport also enjoys an excellent location. Beijing being one of the Asian capitals closest to both North America and Europe in terms of distance, it is an inevitable transit airport for many passengers who want to travel to Asia. Beijing Capital airport is also most often used as the airport of entry to and exit from China.
China’s domestic aviation market is also booming. The Chinese are moving more and more in the country and at a breakneck pace. Asia is the main source of growth in global passenger traffic today. Traffic is growing so fast that China has opened a second, larger and more modern international airport in Beijing, Beijing-Daxing Airport. Beijing Capital airport is expected to lose many passengers in the coming years due to this new airport.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the third busiest airport in the world.
Number of passengers in 2019: 88,068,013 passengers
Number of passengers in 2018: 87 534,384 passengers
Why is Los Angeles Airport the Third Busiest Airport in the World?
Los Angeles Airport is the busiest airport in the world in terms of non-connecting passengers. And that’s understandable! Los Angeles is the most populous city on the west coast of the United States. This international capital of showbiz and cinema has Hollywood and the biggest stars in the world. It is the 6th most populous urban area in the world.
While most major cities in the United States have several airports, Los Angeles does not. The city’s only major airport is LAX and most air traffic is concentrated there.
Los Angeles Airport is also a hub for four major airlines. The three biggest American companies Delta, United and American, as well as Alaska Airlines. There are no airports in the United States and around the world that serve as a hub or major city for more airlines than Los Angeles Airport.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the fourth busiest airport in the world.
Number of passengers in 2019: 86,396,757 passengers
Number of passengers in 2018: 89,149 387 passengers
©Dubai Airport/ Emirates
Why is Dubai Airport the Fourth Busiest Airport in the World?
Dubai’s growth in recent decades has been phenomenal. The city, with its tallest tower in the world, huge shopping centers and artificial islands, has become one of the most prosperous cities in the world. This tremendous growth attracts millions of visitors every year.
Dubai Airport also enjoys a prime location. At the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa, the airport has become a major transit airport for many passengers from these regions.
Emirates airline has established its hub at Dubai Airport. This company with 255 planes has developed an impressive international network. Emirates connects Dubai to most major cities in the world. The company is also recognized for the quality of its service to passengers. It has contributed immensely to the development of Dubai airport traffic.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the fourth busiest airport in the world.
Number of passengers in 2019: 86,396,757 passengers
Number of passengers in 2018: 89,149 387 passengers
Why is Tokyo Airport the Fifth Busiest Airport in the World?
Tokyo is the largest city in the world with 37.28 million inhabitants in 2020. The capital of Japan is home to more than a quarter of the Japanese population. This explains why Tokyo Haneda Airport is one of the busiest in the world.
Although there are two major airports in Tokyo (along with Narita), it is Haneda that is favored by airlines and passengers. This luxury airport is much closer to the city center than Narita, it takes only 30 minutes by public transport to reach the historic heart of the Japanese capital. This is a significant advantage in a city of 2,145 km2, more than 20 times the area of intramural Paris.
Tokyo Haneda Airport is also a favorite among passengers in terms of punctuality, hospitality, service and cleanliness. Japanese airlines All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines connect most of the world’s major cities from Tokyo Haneda Airport.
Chicago-O’Hare International Airport is the 6th busiest airport in the world.
Number of passengers in 2019: 84,649,115 passengers
Number of passengers in 2018: 83 339,186 passengers
Why is Chicago Airport the Sixth Busiest Airport in the World?
Chicago is the third largest city in the United States with 2.7 million residents. It is the city of many American corporate headquarters and is also the best-served city by train in the United States. It has the most major train lines serving the city than any other place in the country.
Due to its ideal geographic location in Illinois, Chicago O’Hare Airport has been chosen as a hub by major airlines such as United and American Airlines. United is even headquartered in the city, and the airport is its largest hub in the country.
Chicago O’Hare Airport was a pioneer in international civil aviation. This is where the terminals, gateways and direct access from highways appeared. It is now a benchmark in the airport sector and this also partly explains its attractiveness.
London Heathrow Airport is the seventh busiest airport in the world.
Number of passengers in 2019: 80,844,305
Number of passengers in 2018: 80,126,320
Why is London Heathrow Airport the Seventh Busiest Airport in the World?
London is populated by 8.6 million people. It is the largest city in the UK and in Europe. As a major tourist destination and the European financial center, London is also the 6th richest city in the world.
Even though London has the most airports among the European capitals (6 airports), London Heathrow Airport manages to be the busiest airport in Europe. It also manages to rank in the top 10 busiest international airports in the world.
London Heathrow Airport is indeed a hub for global air traffic. It is the European airport that receives the most international passengers in transit. London Heathrow is connected to many airports in Asia, the Middle East and North America. This partly explains the popularity of this airport.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China is the 8th busiest airport in the world.
Number of passengers in 2019: 76,153,455
Number of passengers in 2018: 74,006,331
Why is Shanghai Airport the Eighth Busiest Airport in the World?
Shanghai is one of the most populous cities in China with a population of 23,019,200 inhabitants and an area spanning 6,340 km2. Shanghai is the largest industrial zone, the largest seaport, and the main financial and commercial center of the country. The city is drawing the world’s attention to it.
Shanghai Pudong Airport, although competing with Shanghai SHA Airport, is the city’s most popular and busiest. It is connected to Shanghai by the maglev train, the fastest train in the world with a speed of 430 km/h. This airport is the fastest growing airport in the world today.
The Chinese airline China Eastern has established its main hub there and operates the majority of its flights from the airport. This company, which carries more than 80 million passengers per year, notably connects Shanghai-Pudong Airport to New York John F. Kennedy Airport in 15:40 hours.
Paris Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) airport is the ninth busiest airport in the world.
Number of passengers in 2019: 76,150,009
Number of passengers in 2018 : 72,229,723
Why is Paris Roissy Airport the Ninth Busiest Airport in the World?
Paris is the city that attracts the most tourists in the world, it is also an important business center in Europe. The French capital enjoys a strong international reputation.
Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport is the largest of Parisian airports. With its four runways and three terminals, it is also one of the largest airports in Europe and the transit airport for many passengers. It ranks second in Europe in terms of passengers.
Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport has a metro which connects the various terminals, an “Aeroville” shopping center and a train line which connects it to the center of Paris.
More than 115 airlines land at Paris Roissy every week. Air France, which transports more than 104 million passengers annually, has its main hub and even its headquarters there. CDG is also the main European hub of the SkyTeam alliance.
Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport (DFW) closes this ranking of the 10 busiest airports in the world.
Number of passengers in 2019: 75,066,956
Number of passengers in 2018: 69,112,607
Why is Dallas Airport the Tenth Busiest Airport in the World?
Dallas is the 4th largest metropolis in the United States. The Texan city attracts no less than 48.9 million visitors each year and offers them some 78,000 hotel rooms.
Dallas Airport is huge. With 7 runways, 164 aircraft doors and 70 km2 of buildings, it ranks among the largest airports in the world. It also enjoys an excellent location. Located in the heart of the United States, it serves as a major transit airport within the country for many passengers.
Dallas/Forth Worth Airport is also the hub of American Airlines, the world’s largest airline in terms of passengers carried. American carries more than 200 million passengers per year, or over 500,000 per day, with its 864 airliners. The company even has its headquarters in downtown Dallas.
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) : 110,531,300 passengers
- Beijing-Capital International Airport (PEK) : 100,011,438 passengers
- Los Angeles International Airport(LAX) : 88,068,013 passengers
- Dubaï International Airport (DXB) : 86,396,757 passengers
- Tokyo-Haneda International Airport (HND) : 85,505,054 passengers
- Chicago-O’Hare International Airport (ORD) : 84,649,115 passengers
- Londres-Heathrow Airport (LHR) : 80,888,305 passengers
- Shanghai-Pudong International Airport (PVG) : 76 153 455 passagers
- Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport (CDG) : 76,150,009 passengers
- Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport (DFW): 75,066,956 passengers