Dubai, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Doha, London: World's busiest airports

As international passenger numbers soar, these are the busiest aviation hubs

Last updated:
Jay Hilotin (Senior Assistant Editor)
2 MIN READ
1/11
SOARING | Passenger numbers show continuing industry recovery, according to the Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports. Total global passengers in 2021 was recorded at 4.5 billion, a 25% jump from 2020. Passenger traffic at the top 10 busiest airports, representing collectively almost 10% of global traffic (463 million passengers), witnessed a gain of 51.8% from 2020. ACI has shared the most updated airport data used by the industry include passenger traffic, cargo volumes, and aircraft movements. This ranking includes only international passenger traffic.
Twitter / Supplied
2/11
DUBAI (DXB) | 29.11 million: Dubai International kept its top spot as the world’s busiest airport, according to Airports Council International (ACI), citing 2021 international passengers data. DXB clocked up 29.11 million passengers last year, a 12.7% jump. Dubai also reinforced its status as one of the world’s most open cities, having welcomed 4 million international overnight visitors during January-March 2022 period, a 214% growth.
DXB/Twitter
3/11
ISTANBUL (IST) | 26.47 million: Istanbul Airport is the main international airport serving Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city and financial centre. The airport recorded 26.47 million international passengers in 2021, a 169% jump from 2020, from the 6th spot to the 2nd.
Twitter /@igairport
4/11
AMSTERDAM (AMS) | 25.49 million: The Netherlands’ main airport recorded 25.49 million international passengers, placing it 3rd in 2021, a rank lower than its 2020 spot at No. 2 (No. 3 in 2019), according to ACI data.
Reuters
5/11
FRANKFURT (FRA) | 22.7 million: Germany’s main international aviation gateway recorded 22.7 million international passengers in 2021, making it 4th busiest airport globally last year.
AFP
6/11
PARIS (CDG) | 22.62 million: France’s Charles de Gaulle International Airport recorded 22.62 million passengers in 2021, sliding from 4th spot in 2020 to the 5th in 2021.
REUTERS
7/11
DOHA (DOH) | 17.7 million: Qatar’s international airport clocked up 17.7 million international passengers in 2021, landing at No. 6 spot among the world’s busiest airports (from No. 7 in 2020).
AFP
8/11
LONDON, UK (LHR) | 17.62 million: London’s Heathrow airport slid to No. 7th spot in 2021, from No. 2 in 2019 to No. 3 in 2020, according to ACI.
AP
9/11
ANTALYA (AYT) | 17.15 million: Turkey’s Antalya International Airport jumped to No. 8 spot in 2021, from 31st spot in 2020.
Twitter / @antalyaairport
10/11
MADRID (MAD) | 15.34 million: Spain’s Madrid Barajas international Airport, landed on the 9th spot in 2021, gaining a notch higher from 10th position in 2020.
Twitter / César Muñoz @ZesarM
11/11
CANCÚN (CUN) | 13.26 million: Mexico’s Cancun international airport recorded 13.26 million passengers in 2021, rounding up the 10th spot last year, significantly up from 61th place in 2019 and 28th place in 2020.
Twitter

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