Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is world’s busiest global airport in 2023

Thursday, December 21, 2023

In a recent report released by OAG, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) has been crowned as the world’s busiest global airport in 2023. The airport recorded an impressive 61.2 million departing seats, solidifying its position at the top.

Notably, half of the top 10 busiest airports in 2023 are situated in the United States, with Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Denver International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport securing spots in the fifth, sixth, eighth, and ninth positions, respectively.

Representation of European Air traffic

European representation in the top 10 is limited to London Heathrow Airport at the fourth position, with 49.3 million departing seats, and Istanbul Airport at the seventh position, boasting 46.3 million seats. Dubai International Airport secured the second spot with over 56 million departing seats, followed by Tokyo Haneda Airport with more than 52.6 million seats. Guangzhou Airport in China rounded out the top 10, claiming the tenth position with 43.4 million departing seats.

OAG analysis for Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

According to OAG’s analysis, ATL has witnessed a remarkable 12% year-on-year increase in airline capacity, trailing just 3% below 2019 levels. Dubai’s capacity has surged by 5% compared to 2019, with a significant 25% year-on-year increase. London Heathrow experienced a 23% year-on-year capacity increase but remains 2% lower than pre-pandemic levels, while Istanbul Airport marked a 19% year-on-year capacity boost, surpassing 2019 levels by 10%.

Busiest International Routes

 In terms of international routes, the Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi route emerged as the busiest in 2023, recording 4.9 million seats. Cairo to Jeddah and Hong Kong to Taipei secured the second and third positions with 4.8 million and 4.6 million seats, respectively. Seoul Incheon to Osaka Kansai and Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita rounded out the top five.

Asian Air Routes

Among domestic routes, South Korea’s Jeju International to Seoul Gimpo route claimed the top spot as the world’s busiest, followed by Japan’s Sapporo New Chitose to Tokyo Haneda and Fukuoka to Tokyo Haneda routes.

Asia retained its dominance in the world’s busiest routes, driven by its popularity as a tourism hotspot. John Grant, Chief Analyst at OAG, highlighted that while New York’s JFK now offers the most international connections among U.S. airports, domestic travel in the United States remains fiercely competitive. Successfully navigating ongoing supply chain challenges is identified as crucial for U.S. airlines and airports to attract more passengers and restore capacity levels to pre-2019 standards.

« Back to Page