Dubai International Airport extended its lead as the world’s busiest international airport in 2024 as global travel surged past pre-pandemic levels, according to the Airports Council International. The Gulf megahub, the home base for Emirates Airlines, handled 92.3 million travelers last year, up 6.1% from 2023, the ACI said in a report today. London’s Heathrow was second, followed by Seoul Incheon. Singapore and Amsterdam rounded out the top five. Record-breaking recovery Air travel soared in 2024, with total passenger numbers rising 9% to around 9.5 billion, the report said. That’s about 3.8% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. “Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines,” ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci said in a statement. “These hubs are vital arteries of trade, commerce, and connectivity.” ACI, which represents 2,181 airports in 170 countries, forecast in February that while 9.9 billion people will fly this year, the rate of passenger growth will slow. “Key challenges such as economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and airline capacity constraints are expected to increasingly shape the industry’s trajectory,” it said. Regional aviation powerhouses Including domestic travel, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson — the global hub and headquarters for Delta Air Lines — remained the busiest globally, handling 108.1 million people. It was followed by Dubai and Dallas-Fort Worth. Hong Kong International Airport, fresh from expanding and adding a third runway, also extended its lead as the busiest cargo airport, handling 4.9 million metric tonnes of freight. Shanghai jumped one spot to second while Memphis slipped to third. By Danny Lee
