World’s top 10 busiest airports by international passenger traffic in 2024–25

The global aviation industry gets back to life this time after years of pandemic disruption. Airports all over the world are getting back their traffic and 2024 has become a year for global connectivity. According to the data from Airport Council International (ACI) for 2024-25, this time the international passenger traffic was over 9.4 billion passengers, surpassing the pre-COVID levels.

Here are the top 10 busiest airports in the world by international passenger traffic in 2024-25:

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The number one position is taken by Dubai International Airport with 92.3 million international passengers, continuing its dominance as the busiest airport in the world. It serves as a major global transit hub as it is located between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Dubai International Airport’s traffic in 2024 rose with a growth rate of 6.1% from the previous year exceeding its pre-COVID peak.

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The second position is taken by the London Heathrow Airport with 79.2 million international travelers in 2024. Heathrow is Europe's primary international hub. Its connectivity with North America especially, makes it very important for robust transatlantic connectivity. It is supported by British Airways and other key international carriers. The passenger experience is also enhanced by the infrastructure upgrades and improved terminal services.

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The third position is taken by Incheon International Airport with 70.07 million international passengers. Because of the result of the post-COVID travel recovery in the Asia-Pacific region, its traffic increased dramatically over 26% more than 2023. Incheon International Airport serves as the connection point between East Asia and the rest of the world.

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The fourth position was taken by Singapore Changi Airport with 67.1 million international passengers in the year 2024. It recorded over 15% growth in comparison to the previous year 2023 rebounding strongly post-pandemic. This is the popular stopover for travelers between Europe, Asia, and Oceania. It is also celebrated for its award-winning design and passenger experience.

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The fifth position is taken by Amsterdam Schiphol Airport with over 66.8 million international passengers in 2024. It remains as one of the Europe's most busiest and connected airports. AMS is a cornerstone for the KLM-Air France alliance.

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At sixth position stood the Paris Charles de Gaulle with 64.5 million international passengers in 2024. CDG links to North Africa, the Middle East, and the Americans. Its terminal upgrades and increased flight capacity has contributed to its recovery from the pandemic.

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At seventh position stood Istanbul Airport, with 63 million passengers. Istanbul Airport is one of the fastest growing airports globally. It was opened in 2018, and it came quickly in rankings due to its central location linking Europe, Asia and Africa. Due to its planned future terminal expansion, IST is poised for continued growth.(iStock)

The eight position is taken by Frankfurt Airport which is the largest airport of Germany. It served 56.2 million passengers in 2024. With Lugthansa at the forefront of its operations, Frankfurt serves as a central European Hub. FRA is known for its importance for business travel, with reliable connectivity across the globe.

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The ninth position is taken by Hong Kong International Airport. HKG welcomed over 53 million international passengers from the world in 2024. Its growth was 34 % more than the previous one year. It is a gateway to mainland China and Southeast Asia.

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The tenth position is taken by Doha Hamad International airport with 52.7 million international travelers. DOH has Qatar Airways at its core, due to which it is one of the Middle East’s major transit hubs. In recent times, it went through terminal expansions, rapid route growth and luxury amenities which have transformed it into a rising global competitor airways. (iStock)