Atlanta Airport Tops World’s Busiest in 2024
Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport retained its crown as the world’s busiest passenger airport in 2024, according to preliminary data released by Airports Council International. The Delta Air Lines hub processed 108.1 million travelers last year, a 3.3 percent increase over 2023 but still 2.2 percent below its pre‑pandemic peak in 2019. Despite handling fewer passengers than five years ago, Atlanta’s lead remained substantial, outpacing runner‑up Dubai International Airport by more than 15 million passengers.
Dubai International secured the second spot with 92.3 million passengers in 2024, marking a 6.1 percent rise year‑over‑year and a 6.9 percent gain on 2019 figures. As the world’s busiest airport for international traffic, DXB reported 100 percent of its passengers on overseas flights. The Middle Eastern hub saw record growth driven by a strong final quarter, surpassing its previous high of 89.1 million in 2018 and underscoring its strategic role in global connectivity.
American Airlines’ base at Dallas‑Fort Worth International Airport claimed third place with 87.8 million travelers, up 7.4 percent over 2023 and 17 percent above 2019 levels. Tokyo Haneda Airport climbed to fourth position, handling 85.9 million passengers in 2024—a 9.1 percent jump from the previous year and a slight recovery above pre‑pandemic numbers. London Heathrow fell to fifth with 83.9 million passengers, a 5.9 percent increase from 2023 and a 3.7 percent uptick since 2019, as European traffic continued to rebound.
Denver International Airport remained in sixth place with 82.4 million passengers, up 5.8 percent year‑over‑year and 19.3 percent over 2019. Istanbul Airport’s meteoric rise saw it reach seventh position with 80.1 million travelers—a 53.4 percent increase compared to 2019—having been only the 28th‑busiest airport five years earlier. Chicago O’Hare International followed in eighth with 80 million passengers, an 8.3 percent gain over 2023 but still 5.4 percent below its 2019 total.
India’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi jumped to ninth place with 77.8 million travelers, a 7.8 percent increase from 2023 and 13.6 percent growth since 2019. Shanghai Pudong International Airport surged into the top ten at number ten, processing 76.8 million passengers in 2024—a 41 percent year‑over‑year increase and slightly ahead of its 2019 level. Los Angeles International just missed the cut, handling 76.6 million passengers, up 2 percent from 2023.
Altogether, the top ten busiest passenger airports accounted for 855 million travelers in 2024, representing nine percent of global traffic. Worldwide, airports processed 9.5 billion passengers—an 8.8 percent increase over 2023 and 104 percent of 2019 levels—with ACI forecasting growth to 9.9 billion in 2025. ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci noted that these airports “are vital arteries of trade, commerce and connectivity” and demonstrated resilience amid ongoing geopolitical and economic challenges.
Atlanta’s top spot comes under new leadership, as Ricky Smith, former CEO of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, took over as general manager at ATL earlier this month. With strong year‑over‑year gains and a commitment to restoring pre‑pandemic volumes, Hartsfield‑Jackson continues to define the benchmarks for the world’s busiest airports in 2024 and beyond.
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