The 10 Largest Airports in the World 2025 - by Passenger Volume

Which airport is the largest? This can be determined by global passenger numbers. A ranking annually shows the top 10 largest airports worldwide. The first place has remained at the top for years.

Whether as a hub or the airport of a popular vacation destination: Nearly 9.9 billion people worldwide used airports last year to reach their vacation spot. The largest airports in the world, measured by passenger traffic, are located in the USA, as well as in the UK, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.

This is the result according to the Airports Council International for the year 2024. The trade association for airport operators has evaluated and published the annual passenger numbers. Here are the top 10 largest airports in the world based on air travelers. Those who want to see the ten largest airports by area will find a list at the end of this overview.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport has made a remarkable climb in the ranking. The airport has risen from 21st to 10th place. This was made possible by expanded visa regulations, the resumption and expansion of international flights, operational improvements, and increased travel demand.

The airport is a hub for China Eastern Airlines and is one of two international airports in the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai. Terminal 3 is currently under construction to accommodate the growing passenger numbers. In 2024, 76.7 million travelers used the airport.

Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi (DEL) has been in the top 10 for three years now. In 2019, it was still in 17th place, now it is in ninth place. Around 77.8 million passengers departed and arrived in India's capital.

The airport has three terminals, the latest of which opened in 2010. As passenger numbers continue to grow, the capacity is set to increase to 100 million travelers per year by 2026.

In 2024, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) handled around 80 million air travelers. The high passenger numbers are due to the airport at Lake Michigan in the state of Illinois being a major hub for the US airline United Airlines and the second largest hub for American Airlines.

O'Hare was opened in 1955 and covers an area of 2,914 hectares with four terminals.

The airport on the Bosphorus had a traffic volume of more than 80 million air travelers in 2024. Istanbul Airport (IST) only opened in 2018. The reason for its construction was that the city had applied to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

Ultimately, the games were held in Tokyo, but the airport with three terminals emerged and replaced the Ataturk Airport, which was at its capacity limit. Most of the passengers in Istanbul are also international travelers. Turkish Airlines is also based here.

For three years now, the airport has ranked seventh consecutively. In 2019, the Turkish airport was only 28th on the list.

The sixth largest airport in the world, in terms of passenger traffic, is also in the United States. The Denver International Airport (DEN) was used by around 82.3 million travelers in 2024. Like Chicago, it is a hub for United Airlines. Additionally, the US budget airline Frontier Airlines is headquartered there.

The airport is about 40 kilometers from Denver in the state of Colorado on the edge of the Rocky Mountains. Many air travelers are not necessarily ski tourists, but merely transferring in Denver. The airport has made significant progress, as in 2019 it was only 16th worldwide.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is well known as a transfer airport. It counted 83.8 million air travelers for 2024, of which 79.1 million were international passengers.

This makes it the airport with the second most international air travelers and the largest European airport. London Heathrow is the hub for British Airways and one of a total of five airports in the British capital. There are four terminals, a fifth closed in 2015.

After Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) only reached 16th place in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic, it now consistently ranks among the top 5. With 85.9 million people starting and landing at Japan's busiest airport, it ranks fourth among the world's busiest airports.

The airport serves as the primary domestic base for Japan's two largest airlines: Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA).

Alongside Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT), it is used by travelers as a starting point for their stay in Tokyo. However, Haneda is preferred by most vacationers because it is much closer to downtown Tokyo and Yokohama.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) secures third place again in 2024. Approximately 87.8 million passengers boarded or disembarked here. It is another hub for American Airlines and lies between the two major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth in the state of Texas.

Due to its size - almost 7,000 hectares - the airport has five terminals and even its own ZIP code and post office.

At Dubai International Airport (DXB), a total of 92.3 million passengers landed and departed in 2024. Almost all were exclusively international travelers. It is the home base for Emirates Airlines and serves as its hub. The airport, opened in 1960, with its three terminals spans 1,400 hectares in the eastern part of the desert city.

Facing capacity limits due to many travelers, the United Arab Emirates also constructed Dubai World Central (DWC), also known as Al Maktoum Airport. Since 2010, cargo planes have been taking off and landing there, and since 2013, it has also been open for passenger traffic. However, many airlines have not yet switched to the new airport, leaving its passenger numbers below expectations, although it is planned for a capacity of 160 million air travelers.

The largest airport in the world by passenger traffic is also located in the USA. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) ranks first with approximately 108 million air travelers in 2024, far ahead of the runner-up.

It is the largest employer in the state of Georgia, with its two terminals, seven concourses, and nearly 2,000 hectares. About 63,000 people work here. In terms of aircraft movements, the airport was also a leader, with 796,224 take-offs and landings recorded in 2024.

When it comes to the largest airports in the world by area, these airports are in the top 10 of the international list:

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