Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has reaffirmed its status as the world’s busiest airport, handling a staggering 104.6 million passengers in 2023.
The Airports Council International (ACI), the global trade association representing airports worldwide, released its annual rankings on Monday, spotlighting Atlanta’s enduring dominance. Notably, the airport experienced an 11.7% surge in traffic compared to the previous year, reaffirming its position atop the global aviation landscape.
While domestic travel demand remained robust, with ACI reporting a recovery of 96.8% of the 2019 passenger traffic level, the most noteworthy resurgence was witnessed in international air travel. This segment exhibited robust growth of 36.5%, welcoming back 90.4% of passengers from pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
ACI’s World Director General, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, commented, “Global air travel in 2023 was chiefly fueled by the international segment, propelled by several factors, including the anticipated benefits from China’s reopening and a growing inclination towards travel despite macroeconomic conditions.”
Five major U.S. airports secured spots in the top 10 rankings. Following Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport claimed the third position, followed by Denver International Airport at sixth, Los Angeles International Airport at eighth, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport at ninth.
In a historic shift, Dubai International Airport surpassed Dallas-Fort Worth, emerging as the second busiest airport globally with over 79 million passengers. Tokyo-Haneda International Airport witnessed the most significant surge in passengers, with a remarkable 55.1% increase from the previous year as Japan eased border restrictions for international travel.
Felipe de Oliveira emphasized, “The rankings underscore the pivotal role these transportation hubs play in global connectivity, commerce, and economic development. Airports continue to demonstrate their resilience and adaptability amidst the challenges posed by the ever-evolving landscape of global travel.”
The global tally for 2023 stood at nearly 8.5 billion passengers, marking a noteworthy increase of over 25% compared to 2022, as per the report’s findings.