Dubai's Airport Continues to Reign as the Busiest Hub for Global Travel in 2024
Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World (2024) Reflect Global Aviation Sector's Recovery
The aviation sector is on the mend, surpassing pre-pandemic benchmarks as global passenger numbers reached nearly 9.5 billion in 2024, marking a 9% increase from 2023 and a 3.8% gain over the 2019 levels. This growth is evident in the performance of the top 10 busiest airports worldwide, collectively handling 855 million passengers, accounting for 9% of global passenger traffic.
According to the Airports Council International (ACI) World, Dubai International Airport (DXB) was the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic in 2024, serving as a major transit hub between continents. DXB handled 92,331,506 international passengers, a significant increase from the 2019 figures. London Heathrow Airport followed in second place, with 79,194,330 international passengers.
The top 10 busiest airports experienced an 8.8% rise in passenger traffic from 2023 and an 8.4% increase compared to 2019. This surge in international travel is not limited to the top airports; the aviation sector as a whole is recovering and growing beyond pre-pandemic levels. Global air freight volumes climbed 8.4% year-on-year to over 124 million metric tonnes in 2024, representing a 3.9% uptick from 2019 figures.
Justin Erbacci, ACI World Director-General, acknowledged Dubai's pivotal role in the aviation sector's recovery and growth. He emphasized Dubai's importance in the international travel and logistics sector, highlighting its role as a global aviation hub. Dubai's performance was significant in the context of the international travel and logistics sector, maintaining its position despite growing competition.
The aviation sector's recovery and growth are particularly notable in Asia and the Middle East. Dubai International Airport continues to lead globally in international traffic, while London Heathrow remains Europe's primary international gateway. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport followed Dubai in the ranking of the top 10 busiest airports worldwide.
In conclusion, the top 10 busiest airports in the world based on international passenger traffic in 2024 are:
| Rank | Airport Name | Code | Country | International Passengers (2024) | |-------|---------------------------|------|----------------|-------------------------------| | 1 | Dubai International Airport | DXB | United Arab Emirates | 92,331,506 | | 2 | London Heathrow Airport | LHR | United Kingdom | 79,194,330 | | 3 | Incheon International Airport | ICN | South Korea | 70,669,246 | | 4 | Singapore Changi Airport | SIN | Singapore | 67,063,000 | | 5 | Amsterdam Schiphol Airport | AMS | Netherlands | 66,825,240 | | 6 | Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport | CDG | France | 64,469,356 | | 7 | Istanbul Airport | IST | Turkey | 62,975,429 | | 8 | Frankfurt Airport | FRA | Germany | 56,185,219 | | 9 | Hong Kong International Airport | HKG | Hong Kong | 54,032,776 | | 10 | Hamad International Airport| DOH | Qatar | 52,714,976 |
[1] Airports Council International (ACI) Annual World Airport Traffic Dataset for 2024-25 [2] Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson leads in total passenger traffic but ranks lower in international traffic. [3] Data shows a total international traffic surge beyond pre-pandemic levels, especially in Asia and the Middle East. [4] Distinct from total passenger traffic where some other airports like Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson lead overall but rank lower in international traffic.
Travel and lifestyle choices are driving the growth in international passenger traffic at the top busiest airports worldwide. For instance, Dubai International Airport (DXB) handles a significant number of international passengers due to its role as a major transit hub between continents.
The surge in international travel is also reflected in the growth of global air freight volumes, with many airports recovering and growing beyond pre-pandemic levels, such as Dubai International Airport.
