Airports Council International (ACI) World has released a preview of their 2024 airport traffic ranking data. ACI-World’s preliminary data suggests that global traffic reached close to 9.5 billion passengers in 2024, showing a 9% increase from 2023 and a 3.8% increase from pre-pandemic 2019. Additionally, the world’s top ten busiest airports — identified in descending order by ACI-World as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Dubai International Airport (DXB), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW),Tokyo-Haneda International Airport (HND), London Heathrow International Airport (LHR), Denver International Airport (DEN), Istanbul International AIrport (IST), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) — represented 9% of global traffic, an 8.8% increase from 2023 and 8.4% increase from 2019. ATL defended its No.-1 rank from 2023, while PVG made the largest jump from 2023 to 2024, rising from the 21st-busiest airport to the tenth. The rankings of airports with the most international passengers offered a slightly different lineup, with DXB ranking first, followed by LHR, Incheon International Airport (ICN), Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), IST, Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH).
ACI World’s top ten airports for cargo traffic included Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Memphis International Airport in Tennessee (MEM), Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), Incheon International Airport (ICN), Miami International Airport (MIA), Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH), Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). Cargo traffic highlights indicate that air cargo volumes have increased an estimated 8.4% year-over-year, with air cargo volumes at the top ten airports representing close to 26% of 2024’s total global output, attributed to strong e-commerce demand, maritime shipping disruptions and declines in jet fuel prices. ACI’s rankings of top global aircraft movement in 2024 identified a 4.3% increase from 2023, with top ten airports ATL, ORD, DFW, DEN, Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), PVG, IST and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) representing 6% of global traffic.
ACI World predicted that despite political and economic uncertainty, 2025 traffic would reach 9.9 billion, a 4.8% increase from 2024. “Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines,” said ACI World director general Justin Erbacci. “These hubs are vital arteries of trade, commerce, and connectivity. As air travel grows, ACI World stands ready to support its members, ensuring the smooth flow of people and goods that drive global economic, social, and cultural progress.”
