What are the Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World?
Traveling to distant places has become convenient due to aviation facilities. We should thank the aviation industry that continuously modifies itself and understands the need for commuters. Currently, traveling across the globe for business purposes, leisure or adventure become smooth.
Here is a list of the top 10 busiest airports worldwide based on figures from Airports Council International (ACI).
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson International of Atlanta is placed on the top of the list in terms of the world’s busiest airport in 2019 regarding passenger numbers. A total of 110,31,300 passengers passed through its terminals last year. It means a 2.9 percent increase in comparison to 2018. There are two terminals in this airport, the Domestic Terminal and the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal.
2. Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport of Beijing occupied the second position in respect of handling passengers in 2019. The airport officials handled 100,011,438 passengers, a 1.0 percent decrease in passengers compared to 2018. Beijing is the hub for airlines such as Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and China Southeastern Airlines. In 2008, after the Summer Olympics, a new terminal was added to the airport.
3. Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport or (LAX) held third place in terms of handling the passengers. The airport authority served 88,068,013 passengers in 2019, a 0.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. LAX is the hub for; American, Delta, United, and Virgin America. Moreover, Los Angeles is also a focus city for Allegiant Air, Qantas, Air New Zealand, and the main gateway for Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania.
4. Dubai International Airport
Dubai International Airport (DXB) stands at number four, having handled 86,396,757 travelers in 2019, which means a 3.1 percent decrease compared to 2018. The airport is still one of the busiest in the world in terms of international passengers.
5. Tokyo Haneda International Airport
Haneda International Airport, the Japanese airport placed in the fifth spot with an 85,505,054 passenger count in 2019, a 1.7 percent decrease compared to 2018. The terminal is situated next to the Tokyo freight terminal and has scheduled cargo routes. Haneda airport handled its first international passenger flight in 1947 and began its first domestic flights in 1951.
6. O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
The sixth position went to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, which registered 84,649,115 passengers in 2019, a 1.7 percent increase from the previous year. The airport has direct flights to over 210 destinations in the US, North America, South America, Asia, and Europe.
7. London’s Heathrow Airport
London’s Heathrow Airport in The United Kingdom occupied seventh place regarding passenger traffic of 80,888,305 in 2019, a 1.0 percent increase compared to 2018. About 80 airlines fly directly to over 180 destinations worldwide. The airport is the primary hub of British Airways and is a base for Virgin Atlantic. It has four passenger terminals (numbered 2 to 5) and a cargo terminal.
8. Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport held the eighth position in handling the passenger count. The airport officials served 76,153,455 passengers in 2019, a 2.9 percent increase compared to the previous year. Shanghai Pudong International Airport is one of two international airports in Shanghai and a prominent aviation hub in China. The airport has two main passenger terminals and is a fast-growing destination for both passenger and cargo traffic.
9. Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the ninth busiest airport, witnessed a passenger count of 76,150,009 in 2019, a 5.4 percent increase compared to the previous year.
10. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport placed at the tenth position with a passenger count of 75,066,956 in 2019, an 8.6 percent increase from 2018.
Decline in air travel amid COVID-19 in First Quarter of 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has hit all the sectors badly. So is the case with aviation. As a result of a novel coronavirus, air travel has fallen dramatically in view to curb the spread of the deadly virus worldwide. Its immediate consequence resulted in a sharp fall in revenue.
Airports Council International (ACI) World a couple of months ago announced the passenger traffic, cargo volumes, and aircraft movements for 2019. It has made a comparison between the 2019 figures and the first quarter of 2020 data. The comparison reveals the worst-possible effect of COVID-19 on airports in the first quarter of 2020.
Airports are looking deserted worldwide due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As per the ACI World report airports, authorities have witnessed a decline of more than 4.6 billion passengers as well as suffer above US$97 billion in revenue for 2020 as well.
The combined 2019 and 2020 figure shows a sharp decrease in air travel in the world’s top airports. Beijing Airport has seen a massive -62.6% decline in passenger traffic in the first quarter of 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Busiest Airports as per 2019 and a sharp decline in passengers percentage in the first quarter of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
| Rank | Airport | Location | Country | Total passengers in 2019 | Q1, 2020 | Q1 2020 vs Q2 % change |
| 1 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport | Atlanta, Georgia | USA | 110531300 | 20713627 | -18.2 |
| 2 | Beijing Capital International Airport | Beijing, Chaoyang-Shunyi | China | 100011438 | 9327109 | -62.6 |
| 3 | Los Angeles International Airport | Los Angeles, California | USA | 88068013 | 15787322 | -21.7 |
| 4 | Dubai International Airpor | Dubai, Garhoud | UAE | 86396757 | 17823446 | -19.9 |
| 5 | Tokyo Haneda International Airport | Tokyo, Ota | Japan | 85505054 | 15064577 | -28.6 |
| 6 | Chicago’s O’Hare Airport | Chicago, illinois | USA | 84649115 | 14873692 | -17.3 |
| 7 | London’s Heathrow Airport | Hillingdon, London | United Kingdom | 80888305 | 14648707 | -18.3 |
| 8 | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | Pudong, Shanghai | China | 76153455 | 8077491 | -57.1 |
| 9 | Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport | Roissy-en-France, Île-de-France | France | 76150009 | 13093454 | -20.6 |
| 10 | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport | Dallas, Texas | USA | 75066956 | 14669491 | -12.3 |
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