Top 10 busiest airports in the world

To determine how busy an airport is a lot of aspects including the number of passengers, the number of flight departures, and cargo traffic among others can be taken into account.

In this article, we look at the 10 busiest airports in the world in terms of the number of passengers according to a Q2 2022 report.

List of the 10 busiest airports in the world

1. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (total passages in 2022; 92, 699, 630)
2. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Total passengers in 2022; 73, 362, 946)
3. Denver International Airport (Total passengers; 69, 286, 461)
4. O’Hare International Airport (Total passengers in 2022; 68, 340, 619)
5. Dubai International Airport (Total passengers 66, 069, 981)
6. Los Angeles International Airport (Total passengers 65, 924, 298)
7. Istanbul Airport (Total passengers (64, 289, 107)
8. London Heathrow Airport (Total passengers 61, 614, 508)
9. India Gandhi Delhi International Airport (Total passengers 59, 490, 074)
10. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (Total passengers 57, 474, 033)

Let’s take a closer look at each airport below

1. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Also known as Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport or simply Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield, Hartsfield–Jackson or by its airport code ATL, this is the primary international airport serving Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States.

The airport was the busiest in the USA and in the world in 2022. It received a total of 92, 699, 630 as of April that year.

2. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Otherwise known as DFW Airport, a name derived from its IATA and FAA LAD address code is the primary international airport serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolis area in the U.S. state of Texas.

The airport recorded a total of 73, 362, 946 in 2022 which is a 17.5% increase from 2021.

3. Denver International Airport

Locally known as DIA, Denver International Airport is located in the Western United States, primarily serving metropolitan Denver, Colorado, as well as the more significant Front Range Urban Corridor.

The airport is the 3rd busiest in the world in terms of the number of passengers as of April 2022. The airport received a total of 69, 286, 461 by this time. This was an approximately 17.8% increase compared to 2021.

4. O’Hare International Airport

This is an international airport, typically referred to as O’Hare Airport, Chicago O’Hare, or simply O’Hare. It is located on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Illinois, 14 miles northwest of the Loop business district.

The airport has experienced a fantastic +26.5% increase in passengers compared to 2021, bringing the total number to 68, 340, 619.

5. Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Dubai International Airport is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In 2022, the airport served a total of 66, 069, 981 passengers. An impressive 127% increase from 2021.

It was therefore the busiest airport in the UAE in terms of passenger traffic and the 5th busiest in the world.

6. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Commonly referred to as LAX, Los Angeles International Airport is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles in California and its surrounding metropolitan area.

The airport is located in the Westchester neighbourhood approximately 30 km southwest of Downtown Los Angeles. It is reportedly the closest airport to the Westside and the South Bay.

In 2022 the airport served a total of 65, 924, 298 passengers, making it the 6th busiest airport in the world at the time.

7. Istanbul Airport (IST)

Istanbul Airport is the largest of the two international airports serving Istanbul, the capital city of Turkey. The airport is located in the Arnavutköy district, on the European side of Istanbul.

IST served 64,289,107 passengers in 2022, making it the busiest airport in Europe and the 7th-busiest in the world.

8. London Heathrow Airport

Previously known as the London Airport until some time in 1967, Heathrow Airport which is currently also known as London Heathrow is the main international airport serving London. Reportedly, the airport is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system.

The airport is the top gainer in this article having served a total of 61,614, 508 passengers in 2022, a 217.7% increase from 2021.

9. India Gandhi Delhi International Airport (DEL)

Indira Gandhi International Airport is the primary international airport serving the capital of India and the National Capital Region (NCR), Delhi. The airport is located in Palam.

The airport was the busiest in Asia in 2022 after serving 59,490,074 passengers. However, this only earned it the 9th position in the list of the busiest airports in the world in terms of passenger traffic.

10. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)

At the 10th position is Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), also known as Roissy Airport or simply Paris CDG. This is the principal airport serving the Paris French capital in addition to its metropolitan area, and the largest international airport in the country.

In 2022, Paris CDG served a total of 57, 474, 033 passengers becoming the busiest airport in France and the third in Europe in terms of overall passenger traffic.