International air travel continued its strong rebound in 2024, with Dubai International Airport (DXB) maintaining its position as the world’s busiest hub for international passengers, handling a staggering 92.3 million travelers, according to the latest data from Airports Council International (ACI) World.
The new World Airport Traffic Dataset, covering more than 2,800 airports across over 185 countries, revealed that several global airports posted significant growth in international passenger traffic compared to both 2023 and pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Key Highlights from 2024 International Passenger Rankings:
• Dubai (DXB) leads globally with 92.3 million passengers, a 6.1% increase from 2023 and 7.0% above 2019 levels.
• London Heathrow (LHR) remains second with 79.2 million, up 5.7% year-over-year.
• Incheon (ICN) in South Korea saw one of the sharpest rises, surging 26.7% over 2023 to claim 3rd place.
• Singapore Changi (SIN) rose to 4th with 67 million passengers, a 14.8% increase.
• Istanbul Airport (IST) experienced the largest growth among the top 10, with a 59.1% jump from 2019.
Meanwhile, Doha (DOH) and Hong Kong (HKG) made major leaps in 2024. Doha rose to 10th place with 52.7 million passengers, up 14.8% from 2023 and an impressive 35.9% increase over 2019. Hong Kong saw 34.4% year-over-year growth, reflecting its recovery from prolonged travel restrictions.
Even airports traditionally focused on domestic travel made the list. New York’s JFK recorded 35.3 million international passengers, a 6.3% rise from last year, while Dublin (DUB) rounded out the top 20 with 34.4 million, up 5.7% over pre-pandemic figures.
ACI World’s updated rankings reflect the continuing resurgence of international aviation, with strong gains in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe signaling a return to global mobility and increased consumer confidence.
“This recovery is not just about numbers—it’s about connectivity, economic resilience, and the vital role airports play in global development,” said ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci.
The data provides key insights for policymakers, airlines, and infrastructure planners as global travel continues to recover and expand in a shifting economic and geopolitical landscape.
