UAE Takes the Spotlight with Dubai, as London, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Paris Excel Among Busiest Airports in 2024

Published on January 28, 2025

Dubai, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Doha, and Amsterdam lead the rankings of the busiest international airports in 2024, showcasing global aviation’s strong recovery.

Global Aviation Soars in 2024: A Year of Remarkable Growth and Shifting Dynamics

The year 2024 marked a transformative period for global aviation, showcasing significant increases in airline capacities as the industry rebounded from the challenges of recent years. This detailed analysis, based on OAG data, explores the busiest airports globally, with rankings segmented into global, international, and regional categories.

From Atlanta’s consistent dominance to Dubai’s strategic ascent, the report captures the evolving trends in air travel and highlights key insights shaping the aviation landscape.

Busiest Global Airports in 2024

The global rankings of 2024’s busiest airports provide a fascinating lens into the recovery of air travel, with notable growth observed across various regions.

1. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)

Airline Capacity: 62,743,665
Atlanta maintained its position as the world’s busiest airport with a modest 2% growth compared to 2023, though it remains slightly below 2019 levels by 1%. The airport has consistently held the top spot since 2023.

2. Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Airline Capacity: 60,236,220
Dubai demonstrated robust growth, achieving a 7% increase from 2023 and 12% above 2019 levels. It continues to dominate as the busiest international airport worldwide.

3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND)

Airline Capacity: 55,204,580
Tokyo Haneda retained its third position with a healthy 5% growth compared to 2023, surpassing its 2019 capacity by 1%.

4. London Heathrow International Airport (LHR)

Airline Capacity: 51,553,190
Europe’s busiest airport, London Heathrow, secured fourth place with a 4% increase from 2023, exceeding its 2019 levels by 3%.

5. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

Airline Capacity: 51,516,707
Dallas Fort Worth made significant strides, climbing from 13th place in 2019 to 5th in 2024, with an impressive 7% growth from 2023 and an 18% increase above 2019 levels.

6. Denver International Airport (DEN)

Airline Capacity: 49,218,244
Denver’s growth story is remarkable, rising from 21st place in 2019 to 6th in 2024, with a 5% increase from 2023 and a 24% jump compared to 2019.

7. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)

Airline Capacity: 48,852,986
China’s aviation recovery propelled Guangzhou Baiyun into the 7th position, with a 12% increase from 2023 and 9% above 2019 levels.

8. Istanbul International Airport (IST)

Airline Capacity: 48,517,967
Istanbul showcased strong growth, climbing from 16th place in 2019 to 8th in 2024, with a 5% increase from 2023 and 15% above pre-pandemic levels.

9. Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG)

Airline Capacity: 48,503,741
Shanghai Pudong recorded the highest growth among the top 10 airports, with a 29% increase from 2023, reflecting China’s robust recovery.

10. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Airline Capacity: 46,992,360
Chicago O’Hare rounded out the top 10 with an 8% increase from 2023, though it remains 7% below its 2019 capacity levels.

International Rankings: 2024’s Busiest Airports

1. Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Dubai retained its status as the world’s busiest international airport, achieving a 7% increase from 2023 and 12% growth above 2019 levels.

2. London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

London Heathrow secured its place as Europe’s busiest international airport, with a steady 4% increase from 2023 and 2% above 2019.

3. Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)

Seoul Incheon rose to 3rd place, registering a 24% capacity increase from 2023, although it remains 2% below 2019 levels.

4. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)

Singapore Changi moved to 4th place, reflecting a 15% growth from 2023, though it remains slightly under its 2019 capacity.

5. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)

Despite dropping to 5th, Amsterdam recorded an 8% capacity growth compared to 2023, demonstrating recovery momentum.

6. Istanbul International Airport (IST)

Istanbul maintained its 6th position with 8% growth from 2023 and an impressive 20% above 2019 levels.

7. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

Paris Charles de Gaulle showed a 5% increase from 2023 but remains 7% below pre-pandemic levels.

8. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Hong Kong experienced dramatic growth with a 40% increase from 2023, though it lags 23% behind its 2019 performance.

9. Doha International Airport (DOH)

Doha showed strong growth of 13% from 2023, sitting 19% above 2019 levels, reflecting Qatar’s growing prominence as a hub.

Regional Highlights: Europe’s Top Performers

1. London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

London Heathrow retained its lead in Europe with a 4% growth, exceeding 2019 levels by 3%.

2. Istanbul International Airport (IST)

Istanbul’s impressive 15% growth compared to 2019 highlights its expanding role in European aviation.

3. Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

Rome Fiumicino displayed the strongest growth among Europe’s top airports, with a 21% increase from 2023 and 9% above 2019 levels.

Conclusion

The 2024 airport rankings underline the resilience and recovery of global aviation. Middle Eastern and Asian airports continue to drive significant growth, while North American and European hubs maintain steady progress. As the industry adapts to shifting travel demands, these trends highlight the dynamic evolution of air travel in the post-pandemic era.