Atlanta and Dubai top OAG ranking of world’s leading airports by seat capacity

INTERNATIONAL. The world’s busiest airport in 2024 (based on international and domestic seat capacity) was Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International with 62.7 million seats, according to leading travel data provider Official Airline Guide (OAG).

The Atlanta hub previously took top spot in 2019 and 2023, with airline seat capacity increasing +2% year-on-year in 2024 but lagging behind pre-COVID 2019 levels by -1%.

Dubai International Airport secured second position with 60.2 million seats – a +7% increase on airline capacity year-on-year and an impressive +12% increase compared to 2019.

Rounding out the top three was Tokyo Haneda Airport, with 55.2 million seats, a year-on-year capacity increase of +5%.

Key growth drivers

The geographical distribution of the top ten busiest airports by seat capacity was broad, with four in North America, three in Asia, two in Europe and one in the Middle East (see map above).

Shanghai Pudong International Airport emerged as a standout performer, climbing from 15th place in 2023 to ninth in 2024, thanks to a +29% increase in airline capacity – a result of China’s air travel recovery.

In North America, Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) and Denver International (DEN) airports saw remarkable growth. DFW’s capacity increased +18% compared to 2019, while DEN saw +24% growth, the biggest in the top ten.

Busiest international airports of 2024

Dubai International Airport maintained its position as the world’s busiest international airport based on seat capacity, with 60.2 million seats. London Heathrow followed in second place, with 48.4 million seats and a +4% year-on-year increase.

Incheon International Airport climbed four places to third position, as capacity grew +24% from 2023.

Hong Kong International Airport recorded the largest year-on-year growth among the top ten international hubs with +40% growth in capacity. However, it remains -23% below its pre-pandemic performance in 2019.

European highlights

Europe’s busiest airport in 2024 based on seat capacity was London Heathrow, which handled 51.6 million seats – a +4% increase from 2023 and +3% above 2019 levels. Istanbul Airport ranked second, with a capacity growth of +15% compared to 2019.

Rome Fiumicino Airport experienced the most significant growth within Europe, adding +21% more seats than in 2023 and exceeding 2019 levels by +9%.

Munich International Airport and Frankfurt International Airport struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels, lagging behind 2019 by -16% and -12%, respectively. However, both airports saw an increase year-on-year, adding +13% and +6%, respectively.

Busiest airports by region

The top airports by region were:

• Asia Pacific: Tokyo Haneda Airport (55.2 million seats)
• Middle East & Africa: Dubai International Airport (60.2 million seats)
• Latin America: Bogotá Airport (28.6 million seats)
• North America: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (62.7 million seats)

The full report, plus further breakdowns is free to download on the OAG website.