Atlanta remains world’s busiest passenger hub, Incheon sees remarkable jump in passenger reception

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Airports Council International (ACI) World has released its latest set of airport traffic data, confirming the world’s 20 busiest airports for 2023. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport maintains its position as the world’s busiest hub, serving more than 104 million passengers in 2023, an 11.7% increase from 2022, and just 5.3% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Following Atlanta are Dubai International Airport, which welcomed nearly 87 million passengers, a significant increase of 31.7% over 2022, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, with 81.7 million passengers, up 11.4% over the previous year.

Incheon International Airport made a notable rise in the ranking, moving from 99th in 2022 to 20th in 2023, with 56.2 million passengers carried, an impressive increase of 213.8%. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport also saw a significant evolution. After occupying the top spot in the ranking in 2020 and falling to 58th in 2022, it regained 12th place in 2023.

The United States is very present in the top 20, with eight airports included, most of them handling a significant share of domestic traffic (between 70% and 95%). It is worth noting that seven airports in the top 20 exceeded their pre-Covid-19 passenger figures in 2019, indicating a strong recovery in the aviation sector.

ACI World Director General and CEO Luis Felipe de Oliveira commented on the data set results, highlighting the resurgence in demand for air travel. “International passenger traffic has almost fully recovered from the pandemic and regional disparities have narrowed,” he said. “China’s reopening has fueled much of the 2023 growth, propelling Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport into the top 20.”

Felipe de Oliveira also highlighted the resilience and importance of airports, saying: “Airports are an integral part of the communities they serve, supporting social and economic development. ACI World continues to champion airports to ensure their societal benefits are maximised.”

In 2023, the total number of passengers worldwide reached nearly 8.7 billion, an increase of 30.5% from 2022 and a recovery of 94.2% from 2019 levels. This strong recovery underscores the enduring demand for air travel and the central role that airports play in the global economy.

In addition to passenger traffic rankings, the ACI World dataset includes airport cargo and aircraft movement data for over 2,700 airports in more than 185 countries and territories. This comprehensive dataset is collected annually through ACI World’s network of airport operators, investors and aviation stakeholders.

As the aviation industry continues to recover and adapt, the performance and resilience of global airports remains critical to supporting economic growth and connectivity around the world.