Nobody likes a crowded airport, but statistics show that airports are only getting busier. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals exceeded 1.3 billion in 2017, and the International Air Transport Association predicts that annual air travel will double by 2035.
Whether it’s for business or pleasure, the popularity of air travel is not seeing a decline anytime soon and the busiest airports in the world are bound to get even busier.
What is the busiest airport in the world?
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Beijing Capital International Airport
- Dubai International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Tokyo Haneda Airport
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- London Heathrow Airport
- Hong Kong International Airport
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: Atlanta, Georgia
With 107,394,029 passengers in 2018, Atlanta is home to the busiest airport in the world for the 21st year in a row, according to the Airports Council International.
Atlanta has been crowned the busiest airport for so long because, as CNN reports, it’s within a two-hour flight of 80% of the US population, and is ideally located as both a connecting hub and a port of entry into North America.
2. Beijing Capital International Airport: Beijing, China
As Asia’s busiest airport, Beijing saw 100,983,290 passengers pass through its airport in 2018.
To ease capacity issues which cause frequent delays here, China officially opened Beijing Daxing International, a brand new airport, to commercial flights in September 2019.
READ MORE: Clogged ears after a flight? Here’s what to do
3. Dubai International Airport: Dubai, UAE
If shopping is your thing, Dubai is the airport for you! Home to one of the world’s largest airport retail spaces, you can purchase anything from tacky souvenirs, to delicious boxes of local dates, to Rolex watches and other luxuries – all tax-free.
This busy airport hosted 89,149,387 passengers in 2018.
4. Los Angeles International Airport: Los Angeles, California
With 87,534,384 guests in 2018, LA knows its busy airport needs a big boost. In preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games, an expansion will soon be underway to help handle the influx of travelers, The Los Angeles Times reports.
City airport officials said the expansion would bring more sophisticated facilities for travelers, improve runway safety, and add at least 21 gates for domestic and international flights.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about airport security
5. Haneda Airport: Tokyo, Japan
As the fifth busiest airport in the world, Haneda hosted 87,131,973 passengers in 2018. In preparation for the Olympics and Paralympics later on this year, Haneda airport in Tokyo is undergoing large-scale renovations to cope with the vast increase in international flights.
The Japan Times reports that the government plans to increase the annual number of international flight slots from about 60,000 to 99,000 in the lead-up to the 2020 Games.
6. O’Hare International Airport: Chicago, Illinois
With 83,339,186 passengers in 2018, Chicago’s busy airport may leave you craving rejuvenation. Luckily, you can head down to O’Hare’s naturally-lit yoga studio (Terminal 3 Rotunda) with sustainably-sourced bamboo floors and TVs for optional guidance through poses.
To further aid relaxation, Chicago boasts the world’s first aeroponic garden in an airport, supplying fresh produce like purple basil, Habanero peppers, and bibb lettuce to restaurants in the same terminal.
READ MORE: How to get airport lounge access when you travel
7. Heathrow Airport: London, England
As London’s main hub, and often a stop for international long-haul flights, Heathrow Airport saw 80,126,320 visitors in 2018.
Don’t worry about the crowds or poor service, though – Heathrow’s Terminal 5 was voted the best in the world at the 2019 Skytrax World Airport Awards.
8. Hong Kong International Airport: Hong Kong
Hong Kong International Airport is an exciting destination in and of itself. Along with its 74,517,402 passengers in 2018, as a visitor you can expect to play nine holes of golf centered around an island lake, catch an IMAX movie, go on a scavenger hunt for the optical illusion artworks hiding around Terminal 1, or visit the Aviation Discovery Centre to learn about the life of a commercial pilot in a cockpit and flight simulator – all in one airport!
READ MORE: Best things to do before your flight
9. Shanghai Pudong International Airport: Shanghai, China
Shanghai’s Pudong airport had 74,006,331 visitors in 2018, up 5.7% from the year before. As the fifth busiest airport in Asia, Shanghai’s airport offers only the basics to pass the time – ordinary food courts, duty-free shops, and expensive lounges.
Instead, why not take a quick trip on the Maglev? China’s exciting magnetic-levitation train reaches 267 miles per hour, and you’ll reach the city’s edge in under eight minutes.
10. Charles de Gaulle Airport: Paris, France
In tenth place is Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, with 72,229,723 passengers in 2018. As the second busiest airport in Europe, it can only be expected to get busier, with the number of passengers passing through the airport steadily increasing since 2010.
Navigate these busy airports with ease
Next time you visit the world’s busiest airports, make sure you leave plenty of time to navigate the big crowds and long queues. Plus, if you have a long layover, why not ditch the crowds and see what these busy cities have to offer?
