Busiest Airports in the World: Airports are vital hubs connecting people and cultures around the world. The busiest airports are measured not only by the number of passengers handled but also by their services, technology, and efficiency.
These airports serve as major gateways for international travel and freight, making them crucial for global trade and tourism.
The two busiest airports are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Dubai International (DXB). In this article, we will look at the top 10 busiest airports in the world in 2025.
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List of the World’s Busiest Airports in 2025
According to OAG, here are the top 10 busiest airports of the world.
| 2025 Ranking | Airport Code | Airport Name | Seats | Same Month 2024 Ranking |
| 1 | ATL | Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Intl Apt | 5,522,292 | 1 |
| 2 | DXB | Dubai International | 5,199,133 | 2 |
| 3 | HND | Tokyo Intl (Haneda) | 4,665,491 | 3 |
| 4 | LHR | London Heathrow Apt | 4,508,624 | 5 |
| 5 | DFW | Dallas Dallas/Fort Worth Intl Apt | 4,407,455 | 4 |
| 6 | ORD | Chicago O'Hare International Apt | 4,406,631 | 8 |
| 7 | IST | Istanbul Airport | 4,343,437 | 7 |
| 8 | PVG | Shanghai Pudong International Apt | 4,243,318 | 11 |
| 9 | CAN | Baiyun Intl (CN) | 4,220,744 | 9 |
| 10 | DEN | Denver Intl Apt | 4,216,535 | 6 |
#1. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Intl Apt
Source: ATL Airport District
- Airport Code: ATL
- Country: USA
- Seats This Month: 5,522,292
- Rank Same Month Last Year: 1
Because of its prime location as a major connection point between North America, Europe, and Latin America, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport remains the busiest in the world.
Being the main hub for Delta Air Lines, ATL deals with a massive number of both domestic and international flights. In 2024, ATL saw a whopping 108.1 million passengers, solidifying its top spot.
With flights to 150 places across six continents, Atlanta's airport uses many of its runways and terminals to handle all these flights and passengers without a hitch.
#2. Dubai International
Source: Onmanorama
- Airport Code: DXB
- Country: UAE
- Seats This Month: 5,199,133
- Rank Same Month Last Year: 2
Dubai International has solidified its position as the globe's most bustling international airport for the 11th year running. Its strategic location, acting as a vital bridge between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, plays a major role.
As the hub for Emirates, a major international airline, DXB benefits greatly from the carrier's extensive network, which boosts its passenger traffic considerably. In 2024, DXB welcomed 92.3 million travellers, showcasing robust growth.
#3. Tokyo Intl (Haneda)
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Source: Skytrax
- Airport Code: HND
- Country: Japan
- Seats This Month: 4,665,491
- Rank Same Month Last Year: 3
Tokyo International (Haneda) acts as a crucial gateway to Japan and as one of the biggest domestic and regional flight hubs. It is growing with even more international connections. Its proximity to central Tokyo makes it a preferred choice for many travellers.
#4. London Heathrow Airport
Source: Simple Flying
- Airport Code: LHR
- Country: United Kingdom
- Seats This Month: 4,508,624
- Rank Same Month Last Year: 5
London Heathrow is a lynchpin in global aviation, acting as a significant centre for transatlantic and European travel. Through its varied network covering more than 230 destinations in approximately 90 countries, it serves as a notable link for both international business and leisure travel.
Located in London and an important hub for British Airways and significant operations of Virgin Atlantic, LHR saw around 84.1 million fliers in the period between March 2024 and February 2025.
#5. Dallas Dallas/Fort Worth Intl Apt
Source: www.dfwairport.com
- Airport Code: DFW
- Country: USA
- Seats This Month: 4,407,455
- Rank Same Month Last Year: 4
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport consistently ranks among the busiest due to its central geographic location in the United States, serving as a major connecting hub for both domestic and international travellers.
As a primary hub for American Airlines, DFW facilitates a high volume of flight operations. In 2024, DFW saw over 87.8 million passengers, marking significant growth.
Its extensive infrastructure, ongoing investments in modernisation and expansion (part of a nearly $9 billion capital program), and service to over 260 destinations, including 73 international routes, underpin its continuous growth and vital role in global air travel.
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#6. Chicago O'Hare International Apt
Source: AirlinesOfficesWorld
- Airport Code: ORD
- Country: USA
- Seats This Month: 4,406,631
- Rank Same Month Last Year: 8
Because of Chicago O'Hare International Airport's location, it has been and is still one of the busiest airports in the world, which means it is a major domestic hub and also plays a significant role for international flights.
ORD being a prime location for United Airlines and American Airlines, there are loads of flights to be taken care of. In 2024, O'Hare Airport achieved 80+ million passenger turnover on its grounds and became the second place regarding aircraft movements, which amounted to 776,036 operations globally.
The airline operating network with direct flights to 249 cities across six continents, alongside the eight-runway infrastructure, is also the chief reason for O'Hare's ranking being high and consistent.
#7. Istanbul Airport
Source: FlyLili
- Airport Code: IST
- Country: Turkey
- Seats This Month: 4,343,437
- Rank Same Month Last Year: 7
Istanbul Airport has quickly become one of the busiest aviation hubs, with the main factor in its development being its location in the heart of Europe and Asia.
The airport is conveniently located at the crossroads of East and West, which connect it to many different locations. Due to this reason, the airport has full flights throughout the day, and even at night, it remains open.
It has initiated one of the world's largest and most modern facilities, which is intended to be used by a large number of passengers, with some of them planned for future development.
In 2024, IST really amazed us by serving 80 million passengers in total, the international ones accounting for 62.8 million of the total.
#8. Shanghai Pudong International Apt
Source: RSHP
- Airport Code: PVG
- Country: China
- Seats This Month: 4,243,318
- Rank Same Month Last Year: 11
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is one of the more important access points to China, and its status is shown by the fact that it is now growing in both passenger and cargo traffic.
The airport is in some way dependent on the economic strength of Shanghai and is also the main international hub for China Eastern Airlines and a major market for Air China.
In addition, the airport also serves as a central international air cargo airport for famous logistics companies, for instance, FedEx, UPS, and DHL. The number of international passengers at the airport in 2024 was 35.25 million.
#9. Baiyun Intl (CN)
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Source: LinkedIn
- Airport Code: CAN
- Country: China
- Seats This Month: 4,220,744
- Rank Same Month Last Year: 9
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has solidified its position among the busiest airports, driven by the booming travel demand in Southern China and its role as a major hub for China Southern Airlines.
Its extensive domestic network and growing international connections, particularly to Southeast Asia, contribute significantly to its high passenger numbers. In 2024, CAN handled over 2.37 million metric tonnes of cargo, showing a 16.9% increase, and had 512,004 aircraft movements.
Favourable policies like the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme and continuous expansion of international routes are key factors in its sustained growth and importance as a global aviation hub.
#10. Denver Intl Apt
Source: Denver, Colorado
- Airport Code: DEN
- Country: Turkey
- Seats This Month: 4,216,535
- Rank Same Month Last Year: 6
Denver International Airport consistently ranks among the busiest airports globally, serving as a crucial economic engine for Colorado and a significant hub for transcontinental travel in the United States.
Its strategic location in the Rocky Mountain region makes it a key connecting point. In 2024, DEN set a record with over 82 million passengers, a 5.8% increase from the previous year.
This growth is fuelled by increased capacity from major airline carriers like United and Southwest and the addition of new international routes, including Aer Lingus to Dublin and Turkish Airlines to Istanbul, reinforcing its status as a growing global hub.
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