Dubai airport remains world's busiest international hub in 2024

(Web Desk): Dubai International Airport (DXB) has once again been ranked the world’s busiest international airport in 2024, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) World.

The airport handled nearly 9.5 billion international passengers, maintaining its top position from 2023.

Following Dubai on the international passenger traffic list were airports in London, Korea, Singapore, and Amsterdam. Paris, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, and Doha completed the top 10. These airports collectively represented 9% of global air traffic, handling 855 million passengers in 2024 — an increase of 8.8% compared to 2023 and 8.4% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci praised the performance of these major airports, saying they continue to play a vital role in global trade, tourism, and connectivity. “Even in the face of global challenges, these airports demonstrate resilience,” he said.

On a broader scale, total global passenger traffic in 2024 is estimated to be close to 5 billion, which is 9% higher than in 2023 and 3.8% above the 2019 pre-pandemic numbers.

In terms of overall passenger traffic (domestic and international combined), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States remained the busiest in the world. It was followed by Dubai International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Looking ahead, ACI noted that the aviation industry will continue to face challenges such as economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and limited airport capacity, all of which will influence future growth and operations.