A New Ranking Reveals the World’s Busiest Airports—And Half Are in the United States

16.04.2024 - 00:15 / afar.com / Luis Felipe De-Oliveira / Paris De-Gaulle / Airlines

International travel is back. In 2023, the number of global air passengers reached nearly 8.5 billion, or 27 percent above 2022 levels, and 94 percent when compared to 2019 figures, according to Airports Council International (ACI).

The passenger growth was fueled by several factors, according to ACI world director general Luis Felipe de Oliveira, including the reopening of China’s borders in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Additionally, Dubai International Airport rose to second place in the 2023 list, ousting Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport from its No. 2 spot, and Tokyo Haneda International Airport “witnessed a remarkable ascent from 16th position in 2022 to 5th in 2023,” de Oliveira stated in a release.

This week, ACI released its latest ranking of the 10 busiest airports in the world, based on 2023 traffic numbers, with U.S. airports claiming 5 of the top 10 slots. Paris–Charles de Gaulle has dropped from this year’s ranking, having come in 10^th place last year, opening the way for Tokyo to join the list.

Once again, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport tops the list as the world’s busiest airport. In 2023, 104.65 million passengers flew through Atlanta, according to ACI. That was a nearly 12 percent increase over the 93.7 million passengers who traveled through Atlanta in 2022. Even though it tops the list in 2022, Atlanta’s 2022 passenger numbers are still 5 percent shy of 2019 traffic, as air travel continues to recover from the pandemic plummet.

Decent food and artwork help to elevate the airport experience in Atlanta.

Photo by Shutterstock

With 104.65 million passengers passing through its terminals last year, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) remains a major connecting hub for air travel to and within the United States—especially for those traveling with Delta Air Lines and its partners. But it has a lot more going for it than sheer numbers of passengers.

When it comes to the airport lounges, this being Delta’s HQ, there’s at least one Delta Sky Club in all seven of the concourses (A, B, C, D, E, F, and T). There’s also an American Airlines Admirals Club, United Club, and the Club at ATL, available to Priority Pass holders and to those who purchase a day pass. Atlanta also has an ambitious art program that includes both permanent and rotating exhibits.

Atlanta’s massive airport has been seriously stepping up its culinary game in recent years. Its more than 100 food and beverage establishments include acclaimed upscale American restaurant One Flew South, located in Concourse E, as well as a Shake Shack in Concourse A. If you’re in Concourse C, head to the the Varsity for chili dogs (there’s another outpost in Concourse F as well) or the Original El