The latest rankings from Airports Council International World show the airports handling the most passengers, cargo and aircraft movements in 2025, offering a snapshot of how global travel continues to recover and shift.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport remains the busiest airport in the world for passenger traffic, followed by Dubai International Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport. Meanwhile, Chicago O’Hare International Airport ranks first globally for aircraft movements.
ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci said: “We congratulate the world’s busiest airports for managing growing air travel demand amid increasing operational complexity. These hubs keep people and goods moving, supporting global trade, tourism, and economic growth in their communities and regions. To help keep pace with rising demand, governments must prioritize sustained investment in airports and the broader aviation ecosystem.”
Passenger traffic trends
Globally, passenger numbers are estimated to have reached 9.8 billion in 2025. That’s up 3.6% compared to 2024 and 7.3% higher than 2019 levels.
The world’s 10 busiest airports account for around 9% of total passenger traffic. Atlanta holds onto the top spot with 106.3 million passengers, while Dubai handled 95.2 million and Tokyo Haneda climbed to third with 91.7 million.
Airports across Asia-Pacific are continuing to rebound, reshaping global rankings. Shanghai Pudong International Airport recorded the biggest jump in the top 10, rising from 10th to 5th, helped by recovering international travel, eased visa policies and expanded routes. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport also returned to the top 10, moving up to ninth place after sitting 57th in 2022.
Four US airports feature in the top 10, reflecting the strength of the domestic travel market, where between 80% and 95% of passengers are flying within the country.
A mixed global outlook
The aviation sector in 2025 is operating against a backdrop of steady but uneven economic conditions. Global GDP growth is estimated at around 3.0–3.2%, slightly above expectations but still below long-term averages, with trade tensions and policy uncertainty continuing to affect demand.
Lower fuel prices — down about 13% year-on-year — and easing inflation have helped support travel demand, even as volatility persists. Growth has largely been driven by international travel, particularly in Asia-Pacific, while major hubs in North America and Europe are approaching capacity limits.
Infrastructure constraints, aircraft delivery delays and airspace restrictions are increasingly shaping how airlines operate. Ongoing geopolitical tensions have also led to longer flight paths and higher costs, with some traffic shifting to alternative hubs.
The return of Chinese outbound travel has played a significant role in boosting activity across Asia and major global airports. At the same time, air cargo remains near record levels, supported by e-commerce and changes in global supply chains.
International passengers
International travel reached around 4.0 billion passengers in 2025, an increase of 5.9% compared to 2024 and 8.3% above 2019.
Dubai continues to lead for international passenger traffic, followed by Heathrow Airport and Incheon International Airport. The top 10 airports account for roughly 17% of all international passengers.
Air cargo
Air cargo volumes are estimated at nearly 128.9 million metric tonnes in 2025, up 2.9% year-on-year and almost 8.8% higher than 2019 levels.
Traffic remains concentrated among the largest hubs, with the top 10 airports handling close to 26% of global cargo. Hong Kong International Airport and Shanghai Pudong retain the top two spots, while Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport moves into third place.
Aircraft movements
Aircraft movements globally are estimated at around 101.5 million in 2025, a 2.3% increase from 2024 and slightly above 2019 levels.
Chicago O’Hare ranks first for aircraft movements, followed by Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The top 10 airports account for 6.4% of total global movements.
