According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the world s busiest airport for 2019 is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). This airport saw 104 million passengers last year, narrowly beating out Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), which saw 103 million passengers. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) came in third place with 78 million passengers.
Atlanta’s ranking as the world’s busiest airport is partly due to its location: it is a significant hub for Delta and Southwest airlines. The airport also offers a large number of international flights and non-stop service to nearly every major U.S. city.
Beijing Capital International Airport has been in close competition with ATL for the top spot over the past few years. However, the airport has seen explosive growth thanks to China’s burgeoning middle class.
Here Are The World’s Busiest Airports 2019
10.Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle
- 72.2 million passengers annually
According to the Airports Council International, Paris-Charles de Gaulle was the world’s busiest airport in 2019. The airport saw an astonishing 103.7 million passengers pass through its terminals last year. That’s a significant increase from the 89.5 million passengers who passed through the airport in 2018.
Paris-Charles de Gaulle has been the world’s busiest airport for six past seven years. It narrowly overtook Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, seeing 103.6 million passengers in 2019.
However, Atlanta is expected to regain its title as the world’s busiest airport in 2020, with Paris-Charles de Gaulle dropping to second place. There are several reasons for Paris-Charles de Gaulle’s continued success as the world’s busiest airport.
9. Shanghai Pudong International Airport
- 74 million passengers annually
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is the world’s busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic and cargo traffic. In 2019, it handled 89.8 million passengers, which is more than any other airport globally. It also processed 3.4 million metric tons of cargo, making it the world’s busiest cargo airport. The airport is located in Shanghai’s Pudong district and has Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
8. Hong Kong International Airport
- 74.7 million passengers annually
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is the world’s busiest airport by cargo traffic and the world’s 12th-busiest airport by passenger traffic. It is also the world’s busiest airport for international passengers. In 2019, HKIA handled 75,512,000 passengers and 4,544,000 cargo flights. The airport has two runways and two terminals.
7. London Heathrow Airport
- 80 million passengers annually
Heathrow Airport was the world’s busiest airport in 2019. The airport handled 78.5 million passengers in 2018, an increase of 4.7% from 2017. Heathrow is also the world’s third-busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic, after Dubai International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The airport is located west of London and is owned and operated by Heathrow Airport Holdings.
Heathrow Airport was opened on 30 May 1946 as a Royal Air Force base called RAF Heathrow. The first commercial flight departed from the airport on 8 April 1950, when British European Airways flight number 306 carried 14 passengers and three crew from Heathrow to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. In 1951, the airport was renamed London Heathrow Airport to reflect its new status as a commercial airport.
6. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- 83 million passengers annually
Chicago O’Hare International Airport is the world’s busiest airport for passenger traffic and cargo traffic. In 2019, it handled more than 89 million passengers, making it the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic. It also took more than 2 million tons of cargo, making it the busiest airport by cargo traffic.
The first commercial flight departed from O’Hare on October 17, 1955. Since then, the airport has grown significantly, adding new terminals and runways. Today, O’Hare is a hub for American Airlines and United Airlines, and is also a primary gateway to Asia and Europe.
5. Tokyo Haneda International Airport
- 85 million passengers annually
Tokyo Haneda International Airport was the world’s busiest airport in 2019. The airport handled over 89 million passengers in 2018, and it is estimated that the number will increase to over 91 million passengers in 2019.
The airport has four terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The airport is also home to two of the world’s largest airline alliances: Star Alliance and SkyTeam.
4. Los Angeles International Airport
- 87.5 million passengers annually
Los Angeles International Airport, also known as LAX, is a public airport located in the Westchester district of Los Angeles, California. It is the busiest airport globally based on passenger traffic and is also one of the largest airports by area in the United States. The airport serves as a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. As of 2019, LAX has serviced over 88 million passengers.
3. Dubai International Airport
- 89.1 million passengers annually
Dubai International Airport was the world’s busiest airport in 2019. The airport handled 88.2 million passengers in 2018, making it the busiest airport in the world. The airport is also one of the largest airports in terms of passenger traffic and cargo traffic.
2. Beijing Capital International Airport
- 100 million passengers annually
According to Airports Council International, Beijing Capital International Airport was the world’s busiest airport in 2019. The airport served 98.5 million passengers in 2018, a 5.8% increase from 2017. Beijing Capital International Airport also has the world’s largest passenger terminal building, with a floor space of 986,000 square meters.
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- 107.4 million passengers annually
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic and cargo traffic. It is also the United States’ busiest airport, with over 101 million passengers served in 2018. In addition, the airport is Delta’s primary hub and a major international gateway to the U.S.
