Airports serve as critical global transportation hubs connecting tourism, international trade and business travel. This ranking measures total passenger throughput, including arriving, departing and direct transit passengers (transit passengers counted once).
Official statistics are released by Airports Council International (ACI World), the global authoritative body for aviation infrastructure data. Worldwide passenger traffic reached approximately 9.8 billion in 2025, rising 3.6% compared to 2024.
| Rank | Airport Name | IATA | Location | Total Passengers (Millions) | Market Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport | ATL | Georgia, United States | 106.3 | Delta Air Lines main hub; heavy domestic connecting traffic |
| 2 | Dubai International Airport | DXB | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 95.2 | World’s largest international passenger hub, base of Emirates |
| 3 | Tokyo Haneda Airport | HND | Tokyo, Japan | 91.7 | Balanced domestic & international traffic, Asia’s major gateway |
| 4 | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport | DFW | Texas, United States | 85.7 | Primary hub for American Airlines |
| 5 | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | PVG | Shanghai, China | 85.0 | Fast-growing international hub; strong post-pandemic traffic recovery |
| 6 | Chicago O’Hare International Airport | ORD | Illinois, United States | 84.8 | Major hub for United Airlines and American Airlines |
| 7 | London Heathrow Airport | LHR | London, United Kingdom | 84.5 | Europe’s busiest long-haul international airport |
| 8 | Istanbul Airport | IST | Istanbul, Turkey | 84.4 | Key cross-continental hub linking Europe, Asia and the Middle East |
| 9 | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport | CAN | Guangzhou, China | 83.6 | Southern China’s primary international aviation gateway |
| 10 | Denver International Airport | DEN | Colorado, United States | 82.4 | Main hub for United Airlines and Frontier Airlines |
Ranking Overview
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retains the global top position. It has occupied first place for 27 out of the past 28 years, supported by a vast U.S. domestic transfer network.
- Dubai International Airport remains the leader for purely international passenger volume, with almost no domestic travel demand.
- Asia-Pacific airports show remarkable recovery momentum. Tokyo Haneda, Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou Baiyun all secure top-10 positions. Shanghai Pudong achieves the biggest ranking jump within the list, climbing from 10th in 2024 to 5th in 2025.
- Four United States airports feature inside the top 10, relying on enormous domestic air travel demand across North America.
- Istanbul Airport continues expanding as a natural transit bridge connecting European and Asian markets.
Important Notes
- Data Source: Airports Council International (ACI World) official full-year 2025 passenger report, published April 2026.
- Metric definition: Enplaned, deplaned and direct transit passengers; each transit passenger counted one time only.
- This ranking covers overall passenger volume, without separating domestic and international travellers.
- Annual passenger volumes fluctuate due to airline capacity adjustments, travel policies and regional economic conditions.
Global total passenger traffic ≈9.8 billion in 2025.
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