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Airports are doors to the world; they connect different people, economies, cultures, and industries. The busiest airports in the world handle millions of arrivals and departures every year. These huge travel hubs connect people from different continents and are the headquarters of world travel. The busiest airports are extraordinary operations that combine functionality and technologically advanced infrastructure. Thousands of local and international flights are served by airports to passengers every day. The busiest airports serve as points of transit, but they are also places where tourists can shop, dance, dine, and more.
10 Popular Busiest Airports In The World
The busiest airports in the world act as centralised transit hubs for foreign visitors. Here are 10 airports that handle the highest number of passengers and air travel worldwide.
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, USA
Photo: Harrison Keely / Wikimedia Commons
With thousands of flights operating every day, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport successfully retains the title of the busiest airport in the world by flights per day for more than twenty years. The primary hub of Delta Air Lines serves more than 100 million passengers on an annual basis, making it the most active airport for international travellers. The airport also has five parallel runways that can be used at the same time, which makes its structure unique. The airport’s layout aids in reducing the duration of connections between flights without any interruption.
Location: 6000 North Terminal Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Nearby Attractions: Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Centennial Olympic Park
2. Dubai International Airport, UAE
Photo: Unleashed Agency / Unsplash
Dubai International Airport ranks as the second busiest airport in the world and the busiest for international travel. Terminal 3 has a total area of 18,440,000 square meters, making it the largest airport terminal in the world. Eighty million passengers use this airport every year. Dubai International is the bumper hub of Emirates Airlines and has the largest area of duty-free shopping. Additionally, the airport has three terminals and two parallel runways. The airport’s reach extends to over 260 destinations across six continents, making Emirates Airlines one of the best international airlines. The facility uses intelligent smart gates to ease the immigration process.
Location: Airport Road, Garhoud, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Nearby Attractions: Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Palm Jumeirah
3. Tokyo Haneda Airport, Japan
Photo: Dandy1022 / Wikimedia Commons
Tokyo Haneda Airport comes third in the global rankings and first in Japan as the busiest airport in the world. It has four runways and three terminals. This airport was primarily domestic, but its international operations have expanded. Haneda has an excellent record in terms of on-time flights and cleanliness. Haneda Airport is Japan’s international passenger and cargo air transport hub. They handle more than seventy-five million passengers every year. This airport is located only fourteen kilometres from Tokyo, which is extremely beneficial for businessmen. Sophisticated shopping areas with Japanese characteristics can also be found inside the airport.
Location: Ōta, Tokyo, Japan
Nearby Attractions: Tokyo Tower, Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo Disneyland
4. London Heathrow Airport, UK
Photo: Warren Rohner / Wikimedia Commons
The busiest European hub is London Heathrow Airport which comes forth as the busiest airport in the world. It has two parallel runways and five passenger terminals. About 70 million passengers fly from Heathrow annually. It is the main base hub of British Airways. The airport serves more than 200 destinations in 84 countries.The airport has a staff force of more than 76,000 for its daily operations. The airport’s shops and restaurants occupy more than 58,700 square meters of retail space which is unmatched at any other European airport.
Location: Longford, Hounslow, London, United Kingdom
Nearby Attractions: Windsor Castle, Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace
5. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, USA
Photo: FASTILY / Wikimedia Commons
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport ranks fifth in the busiest airport in the world by flights per day. It has seven operational runways along with five huge terminals. The airport is one of the central locations for American Airlines. Moreover, now more than 65 million people have started using the airport annually. More than 260 destinations around the world are served by the airport. The U-shaped layout of the airport merges with its semi-circular structure. The terminals within the airport are connected by an automated transportation system called Skylink. Around 60,000 people are working at the airport.
Location: 2400 Aviation Drive, DFW Airport, Texas, USA
Nearby Attractions: The Sixth Floor Museum, Fort Worth Stockyards, AT&T Stadium
6. Denver International Airport, USA
Photo: Michael Evans / Unsplash
Denver International Airport, which features unique architecture, is ranked as the sixth busiest airport in the world. Its white, tent-like roof symbolises the snow-covered Rocky Mountains during the winter. One of its six runways is 16,000 feet in length, making it one of the longest commercial runways in North America. United Airlines and Frontier Airlines use Denver International as a hub. The airport serves 60 million passengers annually. Denver International is the biggest airport in the world by land area. Denver International uses an underground train system to connect its concourses.
Location: 8500 Peña Boulevard, Denver, Colorado, USA
Nearby Attractions: Rocky Mountain National Park, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Botanic Gardens
7. Istanbul Airport, Turkey
Photo: Arne Müseler / Wikimedia Commons
On the list of the busiest airports in the world, Istanbul Airport is the newest. It opened fully in 2019 and replaced the older Atatürk Airport. Plans have been made to expand the airport, aiming to make it the biggest and busiest airport in the world. It is estimated that when fully developed, the airport will have an annual passenger traffic of 200 million with six available runways. Istanbul currently accommodates around 55 million passengers annually.
Location: Tayakadın, Arnavutköy, Istanbul, Turkey
Nearby Attractions: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace
8. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China
Photo: そらみみ / Wikimedia Commons
One of the two international airports located in Shanghai is the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. It ranks eighth among the busiest airports in the world. It serves as a major hub for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines. The airport is equipped with the world’s fastest commercial train, the Shanghai Maglev Train. Offering superfast speeds of up to 430 km/h, the train connects the airport to the city in no time. Compared to other airports in China, this facility caters to the most international cargo, which makes it even more unique.
Location: Pudong, Shanghai, China
Nearby Attractions: The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Tower
9. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China
Photo: Jacky Cheung / Wikimedia Commons
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport ranks as the ninth busiest airport in the world by flights per day. It serves as a primary hub for China Southern Airlines. Baiyun receives approximately 48 million passengers annually. The airport recently increased its capacity with the opening of Terminal 2 in 2018. Baiyun has an extensive shopping centre with luxury brand boutiques, and more than 200 destinations can be reached through the airport. The airport has used facial recognition technology to speed up the check-in process and introduced QR codes for check-in, making travel paperless.
Location: Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Nearby Attractions: Canton Tower, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian Island
10. Chicago O’Hare International Airport, USA
Photo: Dllu / Wikimedia Commons
O’Hare International Airport completes the list of the busiest airports in the world. It features eight runways, the most of any civilian airport globally. O’Hare is the primary hub for United Airlines and American Airlines. The airport serves around 45 million passengers every year. Between 1963 and 1998, it was considered the busiest airport in the world. O’Hare is served by over two hundred different airlines, flying several flights daily to different parts of the world. The airport was named after a World War II flying ace, Edward “Butch” O’Hare.
Location: 10000 W O’Hare Ave, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Nearby Attractions: Willis Tower, Millennium Park, Navy Pier
The busiest airports in the world and aviation giants exhibit remarkable engineering and operational excellence. These facilities alone handle millions of passengers each year without compromising safety measures. From Atlanta’s record-breaking passenger flows to Istanbul’s ambitious expansion plans, each airport exhibits unique characteristics. Start planning your trip today with TripXL and get a chance to explore the world’s most remarkable airports and the destinations they connect around the globe.
Cover Photo: Ansel Huang / Unsplash
