The busiest airports in the world defy global uncertainty and hold top rankings: ACI

Airports Council International (ACI) World provides an unique first have a look at the 2024 rankings of the world’s busiest airports, showcasing their resilience in navigating global uncertainty. Despite geopolitical and financial challenges, these airports have efficiently held their top rankings, positioning themselves for continued progress.
ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci stated, “Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines. These hubs are vital arteries of trade, commerce, and connectivity. As air travel grows, ACI World stands ready to support its members, ensuring the smooth flow of people and goods that drive global economic, social, and cultural progress.”

Passenger site visitors highlights
• Preliminary figures point out that the 2024 global complete passengers are near 9.5 billion, representing a rise of 9% from 2023 or a achieve of three.8% from pre-pandemic ranges (2019).
• The Top 10 busiest airports, representing 9% of global site visitors (855 million passengers), witnessed a achieve of 8.8% from 2023 and a achieve of 8.4% vis-à-vis their 2019 outcomes (789 million pax in 2019).
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport defends its top place, adopted by Dubai International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
• The greatest soar in the Top 10 rankings was recorded for Shanghai Pudong International Airport, going from twenty first place in 2023 to the tenth spot in 2024. The soar was fueled by expanded visa insurance policies, the resumption and enlargement of worldwide flights, operational enhancements, and the restoration of the Asia-Pacific area, significantly China.
• The unwavering power of Istanbul Airport and New Delhi International Airport preserve them in top ranks, marking important progress over 2019. Both airports have been thriving resulting from airline enlargement, infrastructure progress, and enhanced global connectivity.

Navigating global uncertainty

2024 noticed global passenger progress face important uncertainties that stemmed from evolving financial and geopolitical landscapes. Ongoing provide chain challenges and manufacturing delays from plane producers, in addition to geopolitical tensions, posed a threat to progress alternatives by doubtlessly altering flight routes, rising operational prices, and affecting passenger sentiment. Additionally, the risk of tariffs raised considerations about potential disruptions to global commerce, which not directly affected worldwide journey demand and elevated constructions.

In 2025, global passenger site visitors is forecast to achieve 9.9 billion with a 4.8% year-over-year progress charge. While passenger demand stays robust, the tempo of enlargement is predicted to sluggish as markets shift from recovery-driven surges to structural, long-term progress patterns.

Key challenges similar to financial uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and capability constraints are anticipated to more and more form the business’s trajectory. In superior markets, demand stabilization, provide chain bottlenecks in plane manufacturing and airport capability scarcity might mood progress, whereas in rising markets, larger infrastructure funding and rising middle-class journey demand will seemingly proceed to drive enlargement. As the business strikes into a brand new period of progress, the airport business should deal with monetary viability, funding in infrastructure, operational effectivity, and sustainability.

Cargo site visitors highlights

• Air cargo volumes are estimated to have elevated by 8.4% year-over-year (+3.9% versus 2019), to over 124 million metric tonnes in 2024.

• Air cargo volumes in the top 10 airports–representing near 26% (32.3 million metric tonnes) of the global volumes in 2024—gained 9.3% in 2024 year-over-year or a achieve of 9.5% vis-à-vis their 2019 outcomes (29.5 million tonnes in 2019). Air cargo site visitors is extra concentrated amongst the fundamental airports.

• The improve in cargo is attributed primarily to robust e-commerce demand, maritime transport disruptions, and declines in jet gasoline costs.

• Hong Kong International Airport remained the top rank, adopted by Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Memphis International Airport.

Aircraft actions
• 2024 global plane actions are estimated to be round 100 million, representing a achieve of 4.3% from 2023 or -2.6% vs 2019 (i.e., a restoration of 97.4%).

• The Top 10 airports representing over 6% of global site visitors (6.4 million actions), witnessed a achieve of 6.5% from their 2023 outcomes or a slight achieve of 0.4% vis-à-vis their 2019 outcomes (6.3 million).

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is at the top, adopted by Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.