With 9.8 billion passengers these are the world’s busiest airports

The Airports Council International (ACI) released its ranking of the world’s busiest airports for 2025 on April 14. The list highlights major hub airports, which play a fundamental role in the global air transport system. The airport in first place also retains its title as the busiest in the world.

The total number of passengers last year reached 9.8 billion, according to preliminary figures published by ACI. This represents a 3.6% increase compared to 2024 and a 7.3% rise compared to 2019, before the pandemic.

Airports with the highest passenger traffic in the world

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport remains the world’s busiest airport, followed by Dubai International Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport, ACI reports. Meanwhile, Chicago O’Hare International Airport ranks first in terms of aircraft movements.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the main hub for Delta Air Lines, reclaimed the top spot in 2025 with 106.3 million passengers. Although impressive, this figure represents a 1.6% decrease compared to 2024.

Atlanta airport has held the title of the world’s busiest airport for 27 of the last 28 years, losing the top position only once, in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dubai International Airport ranks second, maintaining this position for three consecutive years, with a total of 95.1 million passengers in 2025. Tokyo Haneda Airport moved up one spot to third place in 2025, with 91.7 million passengers. Dallas/Fort Worth (85.6 million) and Shanghai Pudong (84.9 million) complete the top five.

The top 10 busiest airports account for 9% of global passenger traffic, according to ACI. Four of these ten airports are located in the United States, with a significant share of domestic passengers ranging between 80% and 95% of total traffic, according to the official report.

The remaining airports in the ranking are as follows:

6. Chicago

7. London

8. Istanbul

9. Guangzhou

10. Denver

Meanwhile, ACI reports that international passenger traffic reached 4 billion in 2025, representing a 5.9% increase compared to 2024 and an 8.3% increase compared to 2019.

The top 10 airports for international passenger traffic account for 17% of total international traffic, with Dubai still in first place, followed by London Heathrow and Incheon in second and third place, respectively.

Air transport in 2025

The ACI report also provides an overview of the air transport industry in 2025. Global aviation grew in a resilient but uncertain economic environment, with GDP increasing by around 3.0–3.2%. Lower fuel prices and easing inflation supported travel demand, which remained strong despite volatility.

Global airport traffic rose by 3.6%, driven mainly by international travel and the recovery of Asia-Pacific, while North America and Europe approached capacity limits. Factors such as infrastructure constraints, aircraft delivery delays, and geopolitical tensions began to limit growth and redirect traffic flows, according to ACI.

Finally, China’s reopening strengthened global connectivity, while air cargo remained stable at high levels, supported by e-commerce and shifts in global supply chains.