Atlanta has retained its position as the world’s busiest airport in 2024 with 62.7m seats, ahead of Dubai and Tokyo. Capacity at Atlanta has increased by 2pc compared to 2023 but is still just below 2019 levels by 1pc.
OAG’s annual 2024 rankings indicate that four of the world’s busiest airports are in North America, alongside three in Asia, two in Europe, and one in the Middle East.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) exhibited remarkable growth, securing the highest year-on-year capacity increase at 29pc, boosting its standing to the ninth position within the Top 10 airports.
The rankings reveal new entries such as Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN), and Istanbul Airport (IST) since 2019, highlighting shifting dynamics in global air travel.
Despite challenges, the aviation sector shows strong recovery, with Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) leading in overall capacity and international dominance by Dubai International Airport (DXB), reflecting significant growth across all major regions.
OAG’s Chief Analyst, John Grant shared: “With growth across all regions of the world, the ten busiest airports once again reflect the strong recovery in the aviation sector in the last two years. From the successes in Dallas Ft Worth and Guangzhou to the more recent rapid recovery in capacity at Shanghai Pudong, airlines continue to power ahead with new routes and services despite the supply chain challenges of the post pandemic world.”
