New data on the world’s busiest airports in 2023 reveals the latest trends in global travel. According to the just-released list of the world’s busiest airports in 2023, 8.5 billion passengers traveled globally by plane last year — up from 7 billion passengers in 2022. The rise in air travel marks a recovery to 93.8% of levels in 2019 before the world shut down, according to preliminary data published by the Airports Council International (ACI), a trade association that includes 2,600 airports worldwide.
The data shows that international travel is almost back to pre-pandemic levels. Airports in Asia and the Middle East became busier, with Dubai International Airport jumping from the fifth to the second busiest airport in the world. Airports in India, Japan, and Turkey also made it into the top 10 and were some of the biggest movers in terms of annual gains in passenger numbers.
US airports still make up five of the busiest airports in the world, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retaining its No. 1 position. Despite tough global economic conditions, there was “a growing inclination towards travel,” according to Luis Felipe de Oliveira, the ACI’s world director general. Oliveira noted that “airports continue to demonstrate their resilience and adaptability amidst the challenges posed by the ever-evolving landscape of global travel.”
Here’s a closer look at the top 10 busiest airports in the world. Travelers wait in line at Denver International Airport, the world’s sixth busiest airport.