It isn’t long now until the summer holiday season, and airports are headed into their busiest time of year. But summer or not, plenty of the world’s major hubs are hella busy all year round, whether that’s because they serve as major international hubs or they’re popular spots for a layover (we’re looking at you, Atlanta).
OAG Aviation Worldwide has researched which of the world’s airports are the absolute busiest, by examining flight scheduling data to see which airports have the most seats due to depart this month compared to 2023.
Claiming first place, with a staggering 5,207,792 seats on the timetable to take off throughout April, it’s Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The airport’s total capacity (that’s international and domestic flights) is up three percent from last year, but AHJ has consistently ranked as the busiest hub in the world since 2021.
In second place it’s Dubai International Airport, which has 4,879,128 seats scheduled, and in third is Tokyo International Airport, with 4,460,693 seats on the timetable. Check out the rest of the list right here.
These are the ten busiest airports in the world
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, 5,207,792
- Dubai International Airport, 4,879,128
- Tokyo International Airport, 4,460,693
- London Heathrow International Airport, 4,253,739
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, 4,110,577
- Istanbul Airport, 4,007,397
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, 4,004,202
- Denver International Airport, 3,992,502
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 3,858,108
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport, 3,851,669
More aviation news at Time Out
Though many of us are opting for flight-free travel, sometimes it’s unavoidable. That’s why we bring you the latest airport news, from Spain’s upcoming ban on short-haul flights to all the updates on airport and airline strikes in Europe.
Did you see that Italy has finally launched a digital nomad visa?
Plus: You can now stay overnight at one of the world’s best restaurants.
Say in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news.