The busiest airports by passengers
Airports Council International (ACI World) publishes yearly rankings of airports by total passengers. In its 2024 ranking, the top five were:
| Rank | Airport | Code | Passengers (2024, approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta, USA | ATL | about 108 million |
| 2 | Dubai International, UAE | DXB | about 92 million |
| 3 | Dallas Fort Worth, USA | DFW | about 88 million |
| 4 | Tokyo Haneda, Japan | HND | about 86 million |
| 5 | London Heathrow, UK | LHR | about 84 million |
Source: ACI World preliminary 2024 rankings. Figures rounded.
Atlanta has been the world’s busiest airport for most years this century, mainly because it is Delta Air Lines’ largest hub and many domestic US connections pass through it. Dubai is the busiest airport for international passengers, thanks to Emirates connecting Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. Other giant hubs include Chicago O’Hare, Istanbul, Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Los Angeles and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
The busiest flight routes
Analytics firm OAG ranks routes by the number of scheduled seats. The busiest routes are usually short domestic hops between big cities in Asia, where flying beats long road or ferry trips. Jeju–Seoul Gimpo in South Korea has topped the world list for years, with other busy domestic routes in Japan, Vietnam, Australia and Saudi Arabia. Among international routes, Hong Kong–Taipei, Cairo–Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur–Singapore and Seoul–Tokyo are regularly near the top.
Tips for big hub airports
- Leave enough connection time. The airline’s minimum connection time is legal, not comfortable. At giant hubs, 90 minutes or more is safer for international connections.
- Check terminals. Some hubs (Heathrow, Dubai, Delhi) have terminals far apart, with buses or trains in between.
- Know transit rules. Some countries require a transit visa even if you never leave the airport. Check the official rules of every country you connect through.
- Download the airport app or check its website for maps, walking times and security wait times.
- Keep essentials in your carry-on in case your bag misses the connection.
Airport codes
Every commercial airport has a three-letter IATA code, such as YYZ for Toronto Pearson, DEL for Delhi or SYD for Sydney. Using the code in flight searches avoids confusion between cities with several airports (for example London has LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY and SEN). Many cities also have a city code, such as LON or NYC, that searches all their airports at once.
See what time it is at your destination with the world clock, and check whether you will land in daylight with the day and night map.
Why some airports become giant hubs
Hub airports grow where an airline builds a “hub and spoke” network: flights from many smaller cities feed into one airport, where passengers connect to other destinations. This lets airlines fill large planes on long routes. Geography helps too. Dubai, Doha and Istanbul sit roughly between Europe, Asia and Africa, so most of the world’s population is within an eight-hour flight. Airports in the US and China are busy because both countries have huge domestic markets.
Airport facilities worth knowing
Many large airports offer free Wi-Fi, water refill stations, quiet zones, prayer rooms, children’s play areas and rest areas. Some have transit hotels or sleeping pods for long layovers, and several (such as Singapore and Istanbul) run free city tours for transit passengers with long connections, subject to visa rules. Check the airport’s official website before you travel.
Security and immigration at busy airports
Queues at big airports vary hugely by time of day. Early mornings and late afternoons are often busiest. Many hubs publish live security wait times online. Trusted traveller programs, such as NEXUS and Global Entry in North America or e-gates for eligible passports in Europe and the Gulf, can save a lot of time if you travel often. When connecting internationally, you may need to go through security again even if you never leave the airport, so leave time for it.
Finally, remember that rankings change every year as airlines add routes and travel demand shifts, so check ACI World and OAG for the latest figures.
Planning a connection through one of these hubs? Read our baggage rules so your bag and liquids pass every security check.
Frequently asked questions
What is the busiest airport in the world?
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta (ATL) by total passengers in ACI World’s 2024 ranking.
What is the busiest international airport?
Dubai International (DXB).
What is the busiest flight route?
Jeju–Seoul Gimpo in South Korea, by scheduled seats according to OAG.
How long should I allow for a connection?
At big hubs, about 90 minutes or more for international connections is safer than the minimum.
Data and credits: Written by ViralScopeHub. Facts checked against airline, airport, ACI World, OAG and government sources where cited. Rules change, so confirm with your airline or official sites. See our Travel hub and our credits page.