Dubai, UAE – Dubai International Airport (DXB) has once again secured its place as the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic, according to the latest report by Airports Council International (ACI).
In 2024, DXB welcomed 92.33 million international passengers, marking a 6.1% increase from the previous year and reinforcing its status as the global gateway of choice. London Heathrow (LHR) remained in second place with 79.19 million international travellers, up 5.7% from 2023. Rounding out the top five were Incheon (70.67 million), Singapore Changi (67.06 million), and Amsterdam Schiphol (66.82 million).
Total Passenger Rankings
While DXB dominates in international traffic, Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport (ATL) retained the crown for total passenger volume including domestic and international with 108.07 million passengers. Dubai followed closely, with DXB ranking second overall, ahead of Dallas Fort Worth (87.81 million), Tokyo Haneda (85.9 million), and London Heathrow (83.88 million).
“These rankings reflect the scale of global aviation and the resilience of the industry that continues to grow, despite the complex global environment,” said Justin Erbacci, ACI World Director General.
Global Aviation Rebounds
The ACI report noted that global passenger traffic surged to 9.4 billion in 2024, an 8.4% increase year-on-year and 2.7% above pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The top 20 airports alone handled 1.54 billion passengers, capturing 16% of global air traffic.
The United States led with six airports in the global top 20, mostly dominated by domestic flights—except for New York’s JFK, where 56% of traffic was international.
DXB’s Cargo Climb
In air cargo, DXB saw notable growth, climbing from 17th to 11th among the world’s busiest cargo hubs. Global air freight volumes rebounded to 127 million metric tonnes, up 9.9% year-over-year and 4.1% over 2019 levels.
This recovery was driven by volatile maritime logistics, rising e-commerce demand, and lower jet fuel costs, which improved competitiveness in air freight.
Aircraft Movement and Future Growth
Aircraft movements worldwide reached 100.6 million in 2024, a 3.9% increase from 2023, reaching 96.8% of pre-COVID levels. The top 20 airports alone recorded 11.08 million movements, up 5.4% year-over-year.
Looking ahead, Dubai Airports has ambitious plans to leverage AI and facial recognition to enhance capacity and streamline operations, aiming to handle up to 120 million passengers annually in the coming years.
