Global airports are once again operating at full capacity: passenger traffic is growing, and the largest hubs are recording record numbers. The leader of the ranking not only retained its top spot, but also significantly increased traffic compared to previous years. Find out more about the world's busiest airports and who is in the top 10

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Air travel continues to recover and grow globally, and with it, the load on the world's major transportation hubs. The largest airports are becoming not just arrival and departure points, but full-fledged “crossroads” between continents, through which millions of travelers pass every month.

Recently, an updated list of the world's busiest airports was released, and the international hub once again took the top spot, setting a record for the number of passengers in 2025 - 95.2 million. In the following sections, we will analyze who else is in the top ten and what numbers are behind these positions.

Earlier, we told you that European low-cost airlines have announced lucrative offers for spring and summer flights.

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Who became the world's busiest airport in 2026?

Dubai International Airport has confidently retained its first place in the global ranking in terms of passenger traffic. At the end of 2025, 95.2 million passengers passed through its terminals, a new historical record for the aviation industry. To understand the scale: back in 2024, the figure was 92.3 million, in 2023 - 86.9 million, and before the pandemic, in 2019, passenger traffic was at 86.3 million.

The increase in traffic is directly related to the increase in tourist flows to Dubai. Over the year, the number of visitors to the city increased by about 5%, reaching 19.6 million tourists. Passengers from India (11.9 million people per year), Saudi Arabia (7.5 million) and the United Kingdom (6.3 million) are the most active travelers through the airport. The airport operates 108 airlines and provides flights to 291 cities in 110 countries, making it one of the key transit hubs between Europe, Asia and Africa.

Due to the rapid growth in passenger traffic, the city is already facing overloaded transportation infrastructure and rising living costs. Therefore, the authorities are planning to gradually transfer the main operations to Al Maktoum Airport, which, after a large-scale modernization, should become the new main aviation hub of the region in the next decade.

Rating of the safest airlines in 2026 — find it here.

Top 10 busiest airports in the world in 2026

In 2026, the world's largest airports continue to operate at record levels, handling millions of passengers every month. These hubs play a key role in international and domestic flights, form the main transit routes between continents, and actually set the pace for the development of the entire aviation industry. Below are the top ten airports in the world ranking by passenger traffic.

1. Dubai International Airport (UAE)

Dubai International Airport maintains its leadership in the global ranking and remains the main transit hub between Europe, Asia and Africa. During peak periods, about 5.3 million passengers pass through the airport per month, making it one of the busiest airports in the world. Due to its favorable geographical location, a significant part of intercontinental routes pass through Dubai, which explains the consistently high demand for its air services.

2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (USA)

ATL serves more than 5.1 million passengers per month and is consistently among the world leaders in terms of annual traffic - more than 104 million people per year. The airport operates about 1,000 flights daily and is the main hub of Delta Air Lines. In practice, this means a wide range of connections within the United States and minimal intervals between flights, but also regular congestion during peak hours.

3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport (Japan)

Haneda receives approximately 4.5 million passengers per month and more than 90 million per year. Its key advantage is its location close to the center of Tokyo, which reduces the transfer time to the city. The airport is known for high punctuality of flights and fast baggage handling procedures, which makes it convenient for connecting flights within Japan and international flights within Asia.

For information about carry-on baggage and what is prohibited from being taken on board the aircraft in 2026, follow the link.

4. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (China)

CAN is showing rapid growth: more than 4.2 million passengers per month and more than 60 million per year. It is the main hub of China Southern Airlines and an important “air gateway” to the south of China. The airport is actively developing domestic routes, so it is convenient for transfers between the country's megacities, but transit between terminals can take longer due to long distances.

5. Heathrow Airport, London (UK)

Heathrow remains the busiest international airport in Europe with about 4.2 million passengers per month and 79.2 million per year. More than 540 long-haul and intercontinental flights are operated daily. A practical nuance for travelers is the limited capacity: delays due to queues at passport control are more common here than in many other European hubs.

6. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (USA)

ORD handles about 4.16 million passengers per month and approximately 83 million per year, operating up to 900 flights daily. It is a key hub for United Airlines and American Airlines. The geographical location makes O'Hare convenient for transcontinental flights to the United States, but due to weather conditions in winter, flight delays are more common.

7. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (USA)

DFW receives more than 4.14 million passengers per month and is one of the largest airports in the world by area. As a major hub for American Airlines, it provides convenient connections between US regions and international destinations. Due to the long distances between terminals, you should allow extra time for transfers within the airport.

8. Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (India)

DEL handles more than 4.14 million passengers per month, and annual traffic exceeds 74 million people. The airport has more than 200 domestic and international destinations and is actively expanding its route network. A practical feature is significant queues during peak tourist seasons and national holidays in India.

9. Istanbul Airport (Turkey)

IST receives just over 4.12 million passengers per month and has flights to more than 350 destinations around the world. Thanks to the Turkish Airlines network, the airport is convenient for transfers between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Due to the large scale of the complex, transit between gates can take up to 20-30 minutes on foot.

10. Pudong International Airport, Shanghai (China)

PVG closes the top ten with almost 4.1 million passengers per month and about 66 million per year. The airport is an important base for China Eastern Airlines and one of the main cargo hubs in the Asia-Pacific region. For passengers, this means a large number of international flights, but also longer distances between control areas and boarding gates.

Are you preparing for a trip abroad in 2026?

Medical insurance from the Visit World portal will provide reliable support during your trip, especially in the context of flight changes and unstable schedules. The policy covers medical expenses, emergency assistance, and other unforeseen situations outside the country, so you can feel confident even when plans have to be adjusted at the last minute.

We remind you! The European Union has systematically revised its approach to visa policy for the first time, laying down new rules for travel, work, and legal migration. The decision may affect both short-term visas and long-term plans of foreigners who see their future in Europe. We discuss the key changes in the first EU visa policy strategy and their possible consequences here.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Travel guide for 200 countries;

Legal advice from a local specialist on visa and migration issues;

Travel insurance around the world (please select the country of interest and citizenship to receive services);

Medical insurance all over the world.

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