Air travel is considered the safest, quickest, and most efficient mode of transportation. According to Statista, the global number of flights has increased significantly over the years, with 38.9 million flights recorded in 2019 compared to 25.9 million in 2009. When ranking airports based on passenger traffic, the following are the top 10 busiest airports in the world:

1. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport – 110,531,300
2. Beijing Capital International Airport – 100,011,438
3. Los Angeles International Airport – 88,068,013
4. Dubai International Airport – 86,396,757
5. Tokyo Haneda Airport – 85,505,054
6. O’Hare International Airport – 84,372,618
7. Heathrow Airport – 80,888,305
8. Shanghai Pudong International Airport – 76,153,455
9. Charles de Gaulle Airport – 76,150,009
10. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – 75,066,956

1. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, United States:
Atlanta Airport has been the world’s busiest airport from 1998 to 2019, serving over 110 million passengers in 2019. It is located 11 kilometers south of Atlanta and serves as the primary international airport for the city. It covers an area of 19.2 square kilometers and has five runways. Atlanta Airport is the major hub for Delta Air Lines, which operates over 1,000 daily flights to 225 destinations worldwide. It is also a significant international gateway, ranking 7th for international passenger traffic.

2. Beijing Capital International Airport, China:
Situated 32 kilometers from Beijing, Beijing Capital International Airport is the busiest airport in Asia in terms of passenger traffic and has been the world’s second busiest since 2010. It recorded over 557,000 aircraft movements in 2012, ranking 6th globally. In 2019, it served approximately 100 million passengers, connecting China to the rest of the world.

3. Los Angeles International Airport, United States:
Located 30 kilometers southwest of downtown Los Angeles, LAX primarily serves the city and its surrounding region. With a population of over 4 million, Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the US. In 2019, LAX served 88.1 million passengers and is a major entry point into the country and a connecting hub for various international flights.

4. Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates:
Dubai International Airport is the world’s fourth busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic and ranks first for international passenger traffic. It handled 86.4 million passengers in 2019. Situated 4.5 kilometers east of Dubai in the Al Garhoud District, the airport covers an area of 29 square kilometers. It serves as a hub for Emirates Airline, the largest airline hub in the Middle East. Dubai is a major tourist, shopping, and expatriate destination.

5. Tokyo Haneda Airport, Japan:
Haneda Airport is one of the two primary international airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area. It is located 15 kilometers from Tokyo Station in Ota. In 2019, it served over 85.5 million passengers, ranking as the world’s fifth busiest airport. Haneda Airport handles domestic flights within Japan and offers nonstop services to 17 countries.

6. O’Hare International Airport, United States:
Situated 23 kilometers west of downtown Chicago, O’Hare International Airport is the third busiest airport in the US. It served 84.4 million passengers in 2019 and handles 228 nonstop flights to destinations worldwide. O’Hare is a major hub for American Airlines and United Airlines.

7. Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom:
Heathrow Airport is Europe’s busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic and the second busiest globally for international passenger traffic. It served approximately 80 million passengers in 2019, with over 475,000 aircraft movements recorded. Located 23 kilometers west of Central London, it is the primary hub for British Airways.

8. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China:
Covering an area of 39.9 square kilometers, Shanghai Pudong International Airport is the eighth largest airport in the world. It served 76.1 million passengers in 2019 and is a major aviation hub in East Asia. It acts as a primary hub for Shanghai Airlines and China Eastern Airlines and is mainland China’s international gateway.

9. Charles de Gaulle Airport, France:
Located within Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-d’Oise, and Seine-et-Marne, Charles de Gaulle Airport is the largest international airport in France. It served approximately 76 million passengers in 2019 and facilitates direct flights to numerous countries. It is Air France’s primary hub and a hub for major carriers such as Sky Team and Star Alliance.

10. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, United States:
DFW Airport is the world’s fourth-largest airport by area, third busiest for aircraft movements, and tenth in terms of passenger traffic. It served 75 million passengers in 2019 and is the principal hub for American Airlines, the second-largest airline hub globally. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport offers connections to 260 destinations worldwide.

The United States is home to four of the top ten busiest airports, including Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. In 2019, the US recorded over 926 million flight passengers, the highest globally. The country also possesses the largest aircraft fleet, with approximately 6,703 aircraft fleets.