Atlanta leads the ranking of busiest airports in 2024

13-03-25

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has reaffirmed its position as the world's busiest airport in 2024, handling a total of 62,743,665 seats during the year. This represents a 2% increase compared to 2023, although it is still 1% below the figures recorded in 2019, before the pandemic.

The annual report from the Official Airline Guide (OAG), a leader in aviation industry information and analysis, highlights the resilience and recovery of the airline industry globally. The ranking of the busiest airports is based on the total seat capacity offered by airlines on domestic and international flights through 2024.

World's top airports in 2024

In addition to Atlanta, other airports have shown outstanding performance in terms of seat capacity.

Dubai International Airport (DXB): With 60,236,220 seats, DXB is the second busiest airport in the world. Airline capacity at Dubai grew by 7% compared to 2023 and by 12% compared to 2019.
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND): Recorded 55,204,580 seats in 2024, representing a 5% increase over the previous year.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR): With 51,553,190 seats, LHR is Europe's busiest airport, showing 4% growth compared to 2023 and exceeding 2019 figures by 3%.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): Offered 51,516,707 seats in 2024, an increase of 18% compared to 2019, standing out as one of the fastest growing airports among the top ten.
Denver International Airport (DEN): With 49,218,244 seats, DEN experienced a 24% increase over 2019, cementing itself as another of the fastest growing airports in the top 10.
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN): With 48,852,986 seats, highlighting the recovery and growth of the Chinese air market.
Istanbul Airport (IST): With 48,517,967 seats, IST is positioned as an important hub between Europe and Asia, reflecting its growing relevance in international aviation.
Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG): Offered 48,503,741 seats in 2024, experiencing the fastest growth among the top ten airports, with a 29% increase in capacity compared to 2023. This remarkable increase propelled PVG from fifteenth to ninth place in the global ranking.
Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD): With 46,992,360 seats, ORD closes out the top 10 busiest airports in the world in 2024.

Post-pandemic trends and recovery

OAG's analysis reveals a significant recovery in global air capacity during 2024, approaching pre-pandemic levels. The geographic distribution of the busiest airports is broad, with four located in North America, three in Asia, two in Europe and one in the Middle East, reflecting a balanced recovery across all regions.

The notable growth of airports such as Shanghai Pudong and Seoul Incheon (ICN) is attributed to increased demand and the easing of restrictions, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. On the other hand, Dubai's continued dominance in international capacity highlights the strategic importance of Middle Eastern airports in global connectivity.

Outlook for 2025

Projections for 2025 indicate an upward trend in global passenger traffic and capacity. Airports are expected to continue to adapt to new market demands, implementing innovative technologies and sustainability strategies to improve operational efficiency and passenger experience.

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