Which airport earned the No. 1 spot? We’re betting that the busiest airport in the world isn’t the one you think!
These Are the Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World
Updated on Apr. 30, 2025
If you’ve recently waited 20 minutes just to use an airport bathroom, congrats—you’re living through the golden age of air traffic. According to a new report from Airports Council International (ACI), global air travel soared to nearly 9.5 billion passengers in 2024, a 9% jump from the year before, officially making “standing in line” the world’s fastest-growing endurance sport. So whether you’re waiting in line at security, Starbucks or your gate, you might be interested to know what the busiest airports in the world are … and if you’re standing in one right this minute.
But first, what does “busiest” mean, exactly? The ACI report breaks down the busiest airports in the world based on total airline capacity and ranked by number of seats—and the results might surprise you. If you had to guess the airport that handled the most air travelers in the world, what would you say? New York? Paris? Beijing? Spoiler alert: It’s none of those, and they didn’t even make the top 10!
Read on to find out the surprising answer to which airports are the world’s busiest.
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Which country has the busiest airport?
Not only is the busiest airport in the world right here in the U.S., but four of the top 10 busiest airports also call America home. The U.S. has around 5,082 public airports (and nearly 20,000 total airports if you count every runway and cornfield someone’s landed a Cessna on). Every day, 2.9 million airline passengers fly on more than 45,000 flights in the U.S.—that’s a lot of people traveling through airports every day.
What is the busiest airport in the world in 2025?
The top 10 busiest airports accounted for about 9% of this global traffic, handling a combined total of 855 million passengers. But before we get to No. 1, here are the top 10 busiest airports in the world, according to data compiled in 2024. We also included some expert advice for how to navigate them from someone who has been in every one: Mike Hatten, a retired airline pilot, aviation expert and former senior management of fleet training at a major U.S. airline.
10. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, Illinois
How much traffic it got in 2024: 46,992,360 passengers
O’Hare is the main mid-continent hub for most major commercial airlines in the United States, and it’s currently in the middle of a large expansion. The forthcoming O’Hare Global Terminal will begin to welcome international travelers in 2032, with Satellite 2 opening in 2034.
Pro tip: O’Hare is among the top five airports for the longest security wait times, so signing up for a prescreen security service is a great time-saver, says Hatten, who recommends Clear. “It’s my favorite because it uses retinal scanning technology to identify you and lets you bypass all TSA lines, including PreCheck,” he explains. “You still must complete a security screening, but you go to the front of the line.”
9. Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) in Shanghai, China
How much traffic it got in 2024: 48,503,741 passengers
This airport is the second busiest in China, but it’s No. 1 in passenger throughput (the amount of travelers who move through the system). PVG isn’t just about people, though—it’s a cargo heavyweight too, moving more than 3.4 million metric tons of freight in 2024, which makes it the third-busiest cargo airport in the world. With two massive terminals, four runways and big expansion plans on the horizon (Terminal 3 should open by 2028), Pudong is gearing up to handle up to 130 million passengers per year by 2035.
Pro tip: Sign up for Global Entry, a service similar to TSA PreCheck but for international travel. “This will help you get through a busy airport customs line and back into the country so much faster,” says Hatten.
8. Istanbul (IST) in Istanbul, Turkey
How much traffic it got in 2024: 48,517,967 passengers
In 2024, IST welcomed nearly 80 million passengers, securing its spot as the second-busiest airport in Europe. It currently holds the title of the world’s most connected airport, with 309 unique nonstop destinations. This is due to its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, making it a vital hub for international travel. But this airport isn’t just about numbers. For fun, it has a Youth Lounge equipped with PlayStations and board games, an Istanbul Airport Museum showcasing treasures from 29 museums, and more than 100 restaurants and cafes, including one by famed Turkish chef Salt Bae. IST might just be the only airport where you’ll wish for a longer layover.
Pro tip: It’s always a good idea to arrive two hours early for your flight, says Hatten, but this is even more important in Istanbul, since airport security check lines here can be very unpredictable. You can check the airline’s website or Twitter for real-time updates on security wait times.
7. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) in Guangzhou, China
How much traffic it got in 2024: 48,852,986 passengers
Located in southern China, Guangzhou Baiyun International is the busiest airport outside the United States and the busiest airport in China. Guangzhou is one of five “special economic zones” in China, meaning that businesses—including the airport—are given more leeway in operations and less government oversight. For instance, curfews that apply to other Chinese airports don’t apply to Guangzhou, allowing it to operate 24 hours a day and subsequently making it very busy.
Pro tip: Americans traveling through the Baiyun airport are given a 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit pass. This allows you to take short trips in the province without the usual paperwork, making it faster and easier to leave and return to the airport. To qualify, you must show a valid U.S. passport and connecting flight tickets to a third country or region.
6. Denver International Airport (DEN) in Denver, Colorado
How much traffic it got in 2024: 49,218,244 passengers
Denver International Airport isn’t just big—it’s absurdly big. It’s the largest airport in North America by land area (more than 33,000 acres) and the second largest in the world. You could fit Manhattan inside it twice and still have room left over for a decent game of hide-and-seek. It’s a major hub for United Airlines and Frontier Airlines, and the biggest operating base for Southwest Airlines. It’s also one of just a handful of airports worldwide offering flights to 200-plus destinations. So it’s a good thing that it has the longest commercial runway in North America at 16,000 feet, long enough to land a space shuttle. Weird fact: It’s also the center of a thousand aerospace conspiracy theories involving secret bunkers, murals and … lizard people.
Pro tip: Add a 30-minute buffer to the time you’d normally plan to arrive. This airport is massive, and even though it’s well organized, getting from security to your gate can be a bit of a marathon. For instance, if you normally like to arrive two hours early, arrive 2.5 hours early here.
5. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Dallas, Texas
How much traffic it got in 2024: 51,516,707 passengers
DFW is larger than the island of Manhattan, and it’s essentially a city in its own right. It has its own police, fire protection and emergency medical services, and it’s the first airport to have its own freestanding emergency room. It even has its own ZIP code (75261) and United States Postal Service city designation.
Pro tip: Download the app for the airline you are flying, and check it often before your flight. “You will receive valuable information about your flight in real time, such as where your flight is coming from, potentially alerting you to a possible delay and maybe even a need to rebook,” Hatten says. You can also sign up for text alerts from most major airlines.
4. London Heathrow (LHR) in London, England
How much traffic it got in 2024: 51,553,190 passengers
Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe and operates at a mind-boggling 99% capacity. At peak times, air-traffic controllers land a plane roughly every 45 seconds. It is the world-record holder for international passenger traffic, connecting people to nearly 90 countries. Fun bonus fact: Passengers consume around 25,000 cups of tea a day—because what else would you do in Britain?
Pro tip: American Airlines ranks No. 1 for the highest number of lost and mishandled luggage. “Avoid it if you can, but if you must check luggage, always take a carry-on with items to get you through one or two days, especially prescription medication,” says Hatten.
3. Tokyo International Haneda (HND) in Tokyo, Japan
How much traffic it got in 2024: 55,204,580 passengers
Tokyo International is the second-busiest airport in Asia. Yet even though it handles nearly 80 million passengers a year, this airport is the most punctual international airport worldwide, clocking an impressive 90% on-time departure rate. But if you’re not in a rush, head to the fifth-floor observation deck to see Tokyo Disneyland on a clear day. Or, if you’re truly living your best life, you can soak in an open-air hot spring while staring at Mt. Fuji—yes, at the airport.
Pro tip: Use the train for easy access. Haneda is incredibly well connected to central Tokyo via the Tokyo Monorail and Keikyu Line. It’s faster, cheaper and less stressful than dealing with taxis or traffic. Also, consider having some change in yen for the airport—while most places in the airport take cards, smaller vendors (like the ones with the cool Japanese candy!) still prefer cash.
2. Dubai International (DXB) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
How much traffic it got in 2024: 60,236,220 passengers
In 2024, Dubai International welcomed a record-breaking 92.3 million passengers, making it the world’s busiest airport for international travel. (It’s second on ACI’s list because this list measures global travel, which includes domestic and international flights.) Even though it has only two runways, DXB connects travelers to more than 270 destinations across all inhabited continents (sorry, Antarctica!), thanks to 100-plus airlines. Terminal 3, exclusively for Emirates Airlines, is one of the largest buildings in the world by floor space. It also has the world’s largest duty-free store.
Pro tip: Getting caught with contraband in the security line is annoying in any airport, but it can be an even bigger hassle in a busy airport. To help avoid this, Hatten recommends keeping a dedicated carry-on you use only when flying. “Nothing ever gets put into that suitcase that is prohibited by the TSA,” he says. “I never violate my self-imposed rule under any circumstances.”
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia
How much traffic it got in 2024: 62,743,665 passengers
Surprised that Atlanta’s airport is the busiest in the world? It’s mainly because of its strategic location for both domestic and international flights. In the U.S., you can reach 80% of the country within a two-hour flight from Atlanta. This is also because it’s a hub for Delta Air Lines, the world’s second-largest airline, which has its headquarters in Atlanta. The airport also has five parallel runways, which means more planes can land and take off at once.
Pro tip: Airline lounges are a secret weapon when it comes to navigating busy airports, says Hatten. Even if you aren’t a member of your airline’s rewards program and don’t have access to it, the person at the lounge’s entry desk has up-to-the-minute information not available anywhere else, and they’re usually very helpful, he adds.
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Sources:
- Airports Council International: “The busiest airports in the world defy global uncertainty and hold top rankings”
- Federal Aviation Administration: “Air Traffic by the Numbers”
- Mike Hatten, retired airline pilot, aviation expert and former senior manager of fleet training at a major U.S. airline, and CEO of The Growth Facilitator
- Aerotime: “Atlanta and Dubai both lay claim to world’s busiest airport in 2024”
- OAG: “The busiest airports of 2024”
