Global airport passenger traffic experienced a significant 9% increase in 2024, reaching 9.5 billion passengers, according to preliminary data released by Airports Council International (ACI). This figure represents a 3.8% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, signaling a strong recovery in the aviation sector.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States maintained its position as the world’s busiest airport, handling 108.1 million passengers, a 3.3% increase from 2023. As a major hub for Delta Air Lines, Atlanta’s continued dominance highlights the strength of domestic and international travel in the region.
Dubai International Airport retained its second-place ranking, serving 92.3 million passengers, a 6.1% increase. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport secured the third spot with 87.8 million passengers, reflecting a 7.4% growth. Tokyo’s Haneda Airport climbed to fourth place, handling 85.9 million passengers, a 9.1% rise, while London’s Heathrow Airport fell to fifth, serving 83.9 million passengers, a 5.9% increase.
Rounding out the top ten were Denver, Istanbul, Chicago, New Delhi, and Shanghai Pudong Airport, which saw the most significant growth. Shanghai Pudong handled 76.8 million passengers, a remarkable 41% increase, propelling it from 21st place in 2023.
ACI reported that the top 10 busiest airports accounted for approximately 9% of global traffic, serving 855 million passengers. This represents an 8.8% increase from 2023 and an 8.4% increase from 2019.
Looking ahead, ACI forecasts a 4.8% increase in global passenger traffic by the end of 2025, reaching 9.9 billion passengers.
In addition to passenger growth, air cargo transportation also saw a significant increase, rising by 8.4% in 2024 to 124 million tons. This represents a 3.9% increase compared to 2019. Hong Kong International Airport led in cargo handling with 4.94 million tons, a 14.1% increase, followed by Shanghai and Memphis.
Aircraft takeoffs and landings reached approximately 100 million in 2024, a 4.3% increase from the previous year. However, this figure remains 2.6% lower than in 2019.
Airports Council International (ACI), which represents over 2,180 airports in 170 countries, provided the data and analysis for this report.
