Dubai Airport retains title as busiest international hub, Heathrow second

Dubai International Airport remains the world's busiest international hub in 2024, with 92.3 million passengers, while London Heathrow secures the second spot in global rankings

Dubai International Airport maintained its position as the busiest international airport in the world in 2024, as global air travel exceeded pre-pandemic levels, Bloomberg reported citing data from Airports Council International (ACI). The airport, which serves as the hub for Emirates Airlines, accommodated 92.3 million passengers last year, marking a 6.1 per cent increase from 2023.

 

Top airports for international travel

Following Dubai, London Heathrow Airport ranked second in international passenger traffic, with Seoul Incheon securing third, Singapore Changi and Amsterdam Schiphol rounded out the top five busiest airports for international flights.

 

Global air travel soars

Global air travel surged in 2024, with the total number of passengers increasing by 9 per cent to around 9.5 billion, surpassing pre-Covid-19 traffic by about 3.8 per cent. ACI highlighted the rapid recovery of the aviation industry, which has been rebounding strongly since the pandemic's peak, the Bloomberg report said. 

 

“Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines,” said ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci. “These hubs are vital arteries of trade, commerce, and connectivity.” 

Despite the impressive growth, ACI forecasted that the pace of passenger growth will slow in the coming years. In its February forecast, the organisation projected 9.9 billion passengers in 2025. However, key challenges such as economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and airline capacity constraints are expected to shape the future of the aviation industry.

 

Atlanta is busiest airport overall

When considering both international and domestic travel, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport remained the busiest airport globally in 2024. The airport, serving as the hub for Delta Air Lines, handled 108.1 million passengers, followed by Dubai and Dallas-Fort Worth. 

Hong Kong International Airport also maintained its position as the world’s busiest cargo airport, processing 4.9 million metric tonnes of freight. Shanghai rose to second place in cargo traffic, while Tennessee’s Memphis fell to third.

 

Singapore’s Changi is world’s best airport

Singapore’s Changi Airport has once again been recognised as the World’s Best Airport for the 13th time, according to the latest rankings from Skytrax. Notably, four Indian airports made it to the top 100 list. 

 

Top 100: Indian airports

The Indira Gandhi International Airport got the 32nd position, making it India’s highest-ranked airport. Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport came in at 48th place, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport was ranked 56th, and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport claimed the 73rd spot.

 

Improved rankings for Indian airports

While no Indian airport made it to the top 20 in the world, the rankings of Indian airports have shown significant improvement. Delhi airport moved up to 32nd from 36th in 2024. Bangalore’s Kempegowda Airport climbed to 48th from 58th in the previous year. Hyderabad and Mumbai airports also made strides, with rankings of 56th and 73rd, up from 59th and 95th in 2024, respectively.