Global air travel hit a new high in 2024.
Airports Council International (ACI) reports more than 9.4 billion passengers worldwide—up 8.4% from 2023 and about 2.7% above 2019.
Aircraft movements topped 100.6 million and air cargo handled nearly 127 million metric tons as e-commerce and shipping disruptions pushed more freight into the air.
Key stats: Airport Traffic
- Global passengers (2024): 9.4B+, a new record. Aircraft movements: 100.6M. Air cargo: ~127M metric tons.
- Just 20 airports handled about 1.54 billion of those travelers — ~16% of global traffic.
- Atlanta (ATL) led globally in 2024 with over 108 million passengers.
- Dubai (DXB) ranked second, welcoming 92.3 million travelers.
- Denver (DEN) set a record — over 80 million total passengers, with international traffic rising ~15%.
- Busiest cargo hub: Hong Kong (HKG), 4.9 million tons in 2024 (No. 1 again).
- In the U.S. & North America in 2024, airport traffic increased ~4.5% overall (3.8% domestic, 8.7% international).
- Globally, load factors hit 83.5%, and RPKs (a measure of demand) climbed 10.4% over 2023.
- In 2023, the industry processed around 8.7 billion passengers, recovering to ~95% of 2019 volumes.
- In 2023, airlines flew ~35.3 million scheduled flights, carrying 4.4 billion passengers (1.8B international, 2.6B domestic).
- Seat capacity rankings show ATL leading with ~62.7 million seats in 2024 (as per OAG).
- U.S. demand signal: TSA set an all-time single-day screening record—3,013,413 people on July 7, 2024.
Which airports moved the most people?
ACI’s 2024 rankings confirm a familiar No. 1 and some fast risers (notably Shanghai Pudong). Exact totals below combine official airport releases and ACI-based tallies.
Top 10 Airports by Total Passengers (Calendar Year 2024)
| Rank | Airport | 2024 passengers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) | 108,067,766 |
| 2 | Dubai International (DXB) | 92,300,000 |
| 3 | Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) | 87,817,864 |
| 4 | Tokyo Haneda (HND) | 85,000,000 |
| 5 | London Heathrow (LHR) | 83,882,140 |
| 6 | Denver (DEN) | 82,358,744 |
| 7 | Istanbul (IST) | 80,430,740 |
| 8 | Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | 80,043,050 |
| 9 | Delhi Indira Gandhi (DEL) | 77,820,834 |
| 10 | Shanghai Pudong (PVG) | 76,787,039 |
Sources: ACI World 2025 dataset summary and airport/press releases (specific airport totals where available).
Who leads on international traffic?
International flows concentrated through a handful of global hubs in 2024. ACI’s preliminary list puts Dubai firmly in first, followed by Heathrow; Asia’s recovery vaulted Incheon into third.
Leading Airports by International Passengers (2024, selected)
| Rank | Airport | International passengers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai (DXB) | ~92.3M |
| 2 | London Heathrow (LHR) | ~79.2M |
| 3 | Incheon (ICN) | ~70.7M |
| 4 | Singapore Changi (SIN) | ~67.1M |
| 5 | Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) | ~66.8M |
ACI preliminary 2024 ranking; DXB and LHR figures align with airport and ACI reporting.
Which airports handled the most cargo?
Air cargo rebounded strongly in 2024, helped by e-commerce and maritime route volatility. Hong Kong reclaimed and expanded its lead.
Top Cargo Airports (2024)
| Rank | Airport | Cargo (metric tons) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong (HKG) | 4,938,211 |
| 2 | Shanghai Pudong (PVG) | 3,778,331 |
| 3 | Memphis (MEM) | 3,754,236 |
| 4 | Anchorage (ANC) | 3,699,284 |
| 5 | Louisville (SDF) | 3,152,969 |
Sources: ACI 2024 preliminary rankings; HKIA 2024 total confirmed by the airport.
What about aircraft movements?
ACI’s 2024 movements ranking kept Atlanta in the top slot, with Chicago O’Hare and Dallas–Fort Worth close behind. Global movements rose to ~100 million, about 97% of 2019’s level.
What trends stand out for 2025?
- Scale is back—and broad-based. ACI’s 2024 totals crossed 9.4B passengers; North America continued growing in 2024 with +4.5% versus 2023.
- International travel is driving rank shifts. Asia-Pacific’s recovery boosted hubs like PVG and ICN.
- Cargo regained momentum. Top 20 cargo hubs moved 52.2M tons, up 9% year-over-year.
- Peak-day pressure is real. TSA’s single-day records (3.0M+) underscore strain points around holidays.
FAQ
What was the total number of air travelers worldwide?
Over 9.4 billion, a new record.
Which airport was the busiest overall?
Atlanta (ATL) with ~108.1 million passengers.
Which airport handled the most international passengers?
Dubai (DXB), with ~92.3 million in 2024.
What’s the top cargo airport?
Hong Kong (HKG), with ~4.9 million metric tons in 2024.
Did the U.S. set any records?
Yes. TSA screened 3,013,413 people on July 7, 2024—the busiest single day ever.
Sources
- Airports Council International (ACI) — World’s Busiest Airports Revealed in Final Global Rankings (2024 results)
- ACI — The Busiest Airports in the World: 2024 preliminary rankings
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (coverage of official figures) — ATL served 108.1M passengers in 2024
- Dubai Airports — DXB records highest annual traffic in 2024: 92.3M
- Heathrow Airport — Annual Report 2024 (83.9M passengers)
- DFW Airport (newsroom) — DFW remains No. 3 globally; near 90M passengers and local coverage (87.8M)
- Hong Kong International Airport — HKIA No. 1 cargo hub in 2024 (4.9M tons)
- ACI / International passenger rankings (prelim.) — Top international airports 2024 (ACI-based)
- ACI / Total passenger table (compiled) — Top airports by total passengers 2024 (ACI-based)
- TSA — Single-day screening record (June/July 2024 updates)
0 Comment