Dubai International Airport (DXB) has once again clinched the top spot as the world’s busiest airport for international travelers, welcoming over 92.33 million passengers in 2024—a 6.1% jump from the previous year.
This milestone was confirmed by the Airports Council International (ACI) in its latest annual report, which tracks global aviation activity across passenger traffic, air cargo, and aircraft movements.
London Heathrow remained second on the list, with 79.19 million international travelers, followed by Incheon in South Korea (70.67 million), Singapore Changi Airport (67.06 million), and Amsterdam Schiphol (66.82 million).
“These rankings reflect the scale of global aviation and the resilience of the industry that continues to grow, despite the complex global environment,” said Justin Erbacci, ACI World director general.
Globally, air travel showed remarkable recovery and growth in 2024. Passenger traffic surged past 9.4 billion, up 8.4% from 2023 and exceeding pre-pandemic figures from 2019 by 2.7%. The top 20 busiest airports collectively handled 1.54 billion passengers, or 16% of total global traffic.
While DXB leads in international traffic, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport remained the world’s busiest overall (domestic and international) with over 108 million passengers, followed by Dubai, Dallas Fort Worth, Tokyo Haneda, and London Heathrow.
In cargo transport, DXB also made notable strides, leaping from 17th to 11th in the global rankings. Nearly 127 million metric tonnes of cargo were moved worldwide in 2024—a 9.9% increase year-over-year—fueled by rising e-commerce demand, lower fuel prices, and a shift away from disrupted maritime shipping routes.
Aircraft movements also saw a healthy uptick, with global operations crossing 100 million for the year, inching closer to pre-pandemic levels.