These Were the Busiest Airports in the World for 2024, According to a New Study

Atlanta once again had the busiest airport in the world for 2024 with more than 62 million travelers flying in and out of its terminals. 

In total, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) saw 62.7 million seats filled in 2024, according to data from aviation analytics company OAG. That was aided by the airport’s capacity increase of 2 percent compared to 2023 when it also took the top spot on the list. In fact, Atlanta is consistently ranked one of the busiest airports in the world.

“With growth across all regions of the world, the 10 busiest airports once again reflect the strong recovery in the aviation sector in the last two years,” John Grant, OAG’s chief analyst, said in a release obtained by Travel + Leisure, adding “airlines continue to power ahead with new routes and services despite the supply chain challenges of the post-pandemic world.”

Beyond Atlanta, Dubai International Airport (DXB) came in second with 60.2 million seats filled. The airport, known for its luxury offerings, similarly grew capacity in 2024 with a 7 percent increase in seats compared to the year before.

Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) took the third spot on the list, boasting 55.2 million seats filled in 2024.

In the United States, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) came in as the second busiest airport behind Atlanta, and the fifth busiest in the world, followed by Denver International Airport (DEN), which took the sixth overall spot on the list. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) was the final U.S. airport to make the list of the top 10 busiest airports in the world at No. 10.

Overall, it was a busy year for airports in 2024 across the U.S. with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) seeing the highest-ever passenger volumes, according to the agency. That was especially true for major travel events like Thanksgiving and the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, which all saw record-setting numbers.