10 Busiest Airports in the World

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Airport Council International reported remarkable aircraft activity in airports based on its comprehensive data. In 2023, global passenger traffic reached 8.7 billion, driven largely by international travel. ACI World, as the Airport Council International is also known, conducted an extensive survey across more than 2,700 airports in over 185 countries, involving its global network of airport operators, aviation stakeholders, and investors.

Here is the list of the world's 10 busiest airports by passenger traffic, according to ACI and Airport Technology.

1. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) - United States 

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is the busiest in the world in terms of its passenger traffic rate, which touches the base of 10 million passengers annually. It has demonstrated massive aircraft activities since 1998. 

ATL was established in September 1926 and is home to the tallest air traffic control tower in North America. In 2023, there were 104,653,451 traffic, consisting of both departures and arrivals. 

2. Dubai International Airport (DXB) - UEA

Dubai International Airport is the busiest airport in Asia and has earned a second place in the world. It was publicly opened in 1960. The airport features the largest baggage handling system in the world. In 2023, DXB saw 86,994,365 passengers accumulating from departures and arrivals. It also benefits from being the connecting hub between the Asia-Pacific area, Europe, and North America.

3. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) - United States

Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport is ranked third among the top 10 busiest airports in the world, dropping one place since last year. DFW is named the first carbon-neutral airport in North America. In 2023, it earned a record of 81,764,004 passenger traffic from both departures and arrivals. The airport sustains its fame due to its endless flights to certain destinations. 

4. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) - UK

Hearthrow is one of the busiest airports in the world placing at number six with 79,152,000 passengers traffic flocking from both the departure doors and arrival gates in 2023. LHR was established in 1946 and has featured several terminals for passenger and runway. Heartrow is foreseen to exceed its passenger traffic hitting 81 million for the 2024 report. 

5. Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) - Japan 

Ranking fifth in the list of 10 busiest airports in the world, Tokyo Haneda International has seen a jump of its passenger traffic from 2022. HND recorded an additional 28 million passengers in 2023. Thanks to the number, its passenger traffic increased by 55% with a total of 78,719,302 departures and arrivals. 

Tokyo Haneda International has been operating since 1931 and has significantly grown in the past decades. Today, HND features three passenger terminals as well as four runways. 

6. Denver International Airport (DEN) - United States 

Denver International Airport (DEN) is relatively new among the top 10 busiest airports in the world since it was first opened back in 1995. The size of the airport is twice larger than Manhattan city making it the biggest airport yet in North America. In 2023, DEN managed to gather 77,837,917 passenger traffic. 

7. iGA Istanbul Airport (IST) - Turkiye 

iGA Istanbul Airport is ranked seventh on the list of 10 busiest airports in the world. The mass passenger traffic is expected due to the traffic transfer from Ataturk Airport which was previously closed down in 2018. A record of total 76,236,980 passengers traffic for both departures and arrivals was registered in 2023.  

8. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - United States 

There is a hike in passenger traffic at Los Angeles International Airport in 2023 at 14% from the previous year. LAX was first opened to the public in 1928 and has served 15 gates under nine passenger terminals and four runways. The airport recorded 74,050,851 passengers traffic in 2023. 

9. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) - United States

The fall of Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on the 10 busiest airports in the world was caused by its inability to regain the strength post pandemic. It has gathered 73,894,226 passengers in 2023. ORD was once regarded as the busiest airport in the world from 1963 to 1998. 

10. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) - India

Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) was established in 1930 and has been a prominent hub for numerous Indian airlines.

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