Billions travel every year but these airports carry all the weight

Ranking the world’s busiest airports

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

The world’s busiest airports see millions of travelers passing through their terminals and gates over the course of a year but the numbers moving through the most active hubs is far more than you can possibly imagine. 

An unfathomable number

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

According to preliminary data from the Airports Council International (ACI) ‘2024 Airport Rankings’ report, the world saw a total of 9.5 billion global airline passengers in 2024, a 9% increase from air travelers in 2023. 

Key hubs make the world go round

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Many air travelers spent time at key hubs around the world, ten of which saw 855 million passengers pass through them in 2024. However, the largest airport hubs likely aren’t in the cities you’d think. Let’s explore them. 

10. Shanghai

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: China

Airport Code: PVG

2024 Total Passengers: 76.7 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Yuezhi_Huang, CC BY-SA 4.0

9. New Delhi

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: India

Airport Code: DEL

2024 Total Passengers: 77.8 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Rishabh Mathur, CC BY-SA 2.0

8. Chicago

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: USA

Airport Code: ORD

2024 Total Passengers: 80.0 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Chris Rycroft, CC BY 2.0

7. Istanbul

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: Turkiye

Airport Code: IST

2024 Total Passengers: 80.1 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Arne Müseler, Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0

6. Denver

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: USA

Airport Code: DEN

2024 Total Passengers: 82.3 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Bmurphy380, Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0

5. London

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: UK

Airport Code: LHR

2024 Total Passengers: 83.8 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Orderinchaos, Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0

4. Tokyo

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: Japan

Airport Code: HND

2024 Total Passengers: 85.9 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By ActivBowser9177, Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0=

3. Dallas Fort Worth

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: USA

Airport Code: DFW

2024 Total Passengers: 87.8 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Todd MacDonald, CC BY 2.0

2. Dubai

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: United Arab Emirates 

Airport Code: DXB

2024 Total Passengers: 92.3 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Simon Stonier, CC BY-SA 2.0

1. Atlanta

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: USA

Airport Code: ATL

2024 Total Passengers: 108.0 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By redlegsfan21, CC BY-SA 2.0

Air travel and its global challenges

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

“Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines,” said ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci, before adding: “These hubs are vital arteries of trade, commerce, and connectivity.”

An incomplete list

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Erbacci’s comment is important because it reveals that airports are more than just places that connect people, they also connect commerce, and any list that examines the world’s busiest airports wouldn’t be complete without listing the busiest cargo airports. 

The world’s busiest cargo airports

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Much like the world’s busiest people-moving airports, the world's busiest cargo airports are not where you think they would be. Let’s take a look at the airports that moved the most goods in 2024.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0

10. Taipei

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: Taiwan

Airport Code: TPE

2024 Total Cargo: 2.27 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By 毛貓大少爺, CC BY-SA 2.0

9. Guangzhou

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: China

Airport Code: CAN

2024 Total Cargo: 2.37 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By 钉钉, Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0

8. Doha

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: Qatar

Airport Code: DOH

2024 Total Cargo: 2.61 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Sunnya343, Own Work, CC BY-SA 3.0

7. Miami

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: USA

Airport Code: MIA

2024 Total Cargo:  2.75 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Benoît Prieur, Own Work, CC0

6. Incheon

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: South Korea

Airport Code: ICN

2024 Total Cargo: 2.94 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By MNXANL, Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0

5. Louisville

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: USA

Airport Code: SDF

2024 Total Cargo: 3.15 Million

4. Anchorage

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: USA

Airport Code: ANC

2024 Total Cargo: 3.69 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Quintin Soloviev, Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0

3. Memphis

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: USA

Airport Code: MEM

2024 Total Cargo:  3.75 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Airportexpert24, Own Work, CC0

2. Shanghai

10. Shanghai, 9. New Delhi, 8. Chicago, 7. Istanbul, 6. Denver, 5. London, 4. Tokyo, 3. Dallas Fort Worth, 2. Dubai, 1. Atlanta, 10. Taipei, 9. Guangzhou, 7. Miami, 6. Incheon, 5. Louisville, 4. Anchorage, 3. Memphis, 2. Shanghai

Country: China

Airport Code: PVG

2024 Total Cargo: 3.77 Million

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By そらみみ, Own Work, CC BY-SA 4.0

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