The strength of Asia-Pacific airports has shone through in OAG’s ranking of the world’s busiest airports in 2024.
Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) maintains its position as the third busiest airport worldwide, with a 4.8 per cent year-on-year capacity growth, reaching 55.2 million seats.
Guangzhou’s Baiyun International and Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport take seventh and ninth places respectively. The latter rose from the 15th to ninth spot in just a year, driven by a 29 per cent year-on-year capacity growth and making it the fastest-growing airport in the global top 10.
The full ranking of the world’s busiest airports by seats comprises Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in first place; Dubai International Airport in second place; Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) in third; London Heathrow Airport in fourth; Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in fifth; Denver International Airport in sixth; Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in seventh; Istanbul Airport in eighth; Shanghai Pudong International Airport in ninth; and Chicago O’Hare International Airport in 10th.
In terms of international seat capacity, Seoul’s Incheon International Airport is the highest ranked Asia-Pacific airport, handling 41.6 million international seats and climbing from seventh place in 2023 to third in 2024.
Singapore’s Changi Airport emerges as a close contender in fourth position with 41.5 million scheduled seats, followed by Hong Kong International Airport (in ninth) with 34.6 million seats, showcasing an impressive 40 per cent year-on-year capacity growth. Both hubs remain powerhouses for connectivity and serve as key transit hubs in the region.
The full ranking of busiest international airports by seats is topped by Dubai International Airport in first place, followed by London Heathrow Airport and Incheon International Airport.
OAG’s head of Asia Pacific, Mayur Patel said: “Our latest rankings confirm the strength of the Asian market recovery through 2024, with Shanghai Pudong the fastest growing among the top ten entrants and Guangzhou Baiyun International entering the list for the first time. The strength of hubs like Seoul Incheon, Singapore Changi, and Hong Kong highlights the region’s critical role in global connectivity and catering to evolving traveller demands.”
