World’s Top 10 airports 2021 – many of the previous ‘busiest airports’ are back on the list

Some indicators were evident earlier this year when 2021 traffic figures were revealed that for some airports the coronavirus pandemic has been nothing short of catastrophic, and that ‘recovery’ will take a long time.

London Heathrow, Hong Kong and Seoul Incheon are numbered among them. The war in Ukraine, the potential for further conflict elsewhere, and the prospect of stagflation across many economies only adds to their woes.

At the same time other airports, if they have not actually ‘benefitted’ from the pandemic, have at least been able to reposition themselves as challengers to the established order in a still uncertain future.

ACI’s ‘Top 10’ airport lists for 2021, for passengers, international passengers, cargo and movements, throw some light on this changing order and throw up some surprising results.