As post-pandemic travel continues to increase, airports are booked and busy.
Indeed, a new report from Airports Council International released Monday found that 2023 saw a total global passenger footprint of approximately 8.5 billion people, up 27.2% year-over-year, and a recovery rate by 93.8% compared to pre-pandemic rankings in 2019.
The report has revealed preliminary rankings of the world’s busiest airports for 2023, and a new international hot spot has landed at number 2.
After collecting data from over 2,600 airports in over 180 countries and territories, the #1 busiest airport in the world is still Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Atlanta has held the top spot for more than 20 years, thanks to high passenger volume and Delta Airlines’ headquarters in the city, which served more than 104.6 million passengers last year.
Related: What are the busiest airports in the world? ATL takes first place
Second place went to Dubai Airport, which saw passenger volume increase by 31.7% year-on-year, bringing in around 87 million passengers in 2023. Last year Dubai ranked fifth in the list.
Travelers crowd the departures area of Dubai International Airport on March 6, 2024, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Horacio Villalobos Corbis | Getty Images
Third place goes to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which saw 81.75 million passengers in 2023, followed by London’s Heathrow Airport (79.18 million passengers) and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (78 .72 million passengers).
“Global air travel in 2023 was primarily fueled by the international segment, driven by several factors. Among these were the expected benefits from the reopening of China and a growing propensity to travel despite macroeconomic conditions,” said the director general of ‘ACI World Luis Felipe de Oliveira in a note. corporate release.
Of the 10 busiest airports internationally, five were located in the United States, with Denver International Airport at no. 6, Los Angeles International Airport at no. 8 and Chicago O’Hare International Airport at no. 9.
Related: Delta airline most on time, Air Canada least: 2023 report
The 10 best business airports in the world, according to the Airports Council International
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
104.6 million passengers in 2023 - Dubai Airport
87 million passengers in 2023 - Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
81.75 million passengers in 2023 - London Heathrow Airport
79.18 million passengers in 2023 - Tokyo’s Haneda airport
78.72 million passengers - Denver International Airport
77.84 million passengers in 2023 - London Heathrow Airport
79.18 million passengers in 2023 - Los Angeles International Airport
75.05 million passengers in 2023 - Chicago O’Hare International Airport
73.89 million passengers in 2023 - New Delhi Airport (India)
72.21 million passengers in 2023