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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
[[File:ATL Terminal T and A 2018.jpg|thumb|[[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[United States]], the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic and aircraft movements]]

This '''list of the busiest airports''' includes the world's busiest airports by a range of criteria. The criteria are specified by the [[Airports Council International|Airports Council International (ACI)]] in Montreal, Canada.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.airports.org/cda/aci_common/display/main/aci_content07_c.jsp?zn=aci&cp=1-5-54_666_2__
 |title       = Airports Welcome Record 4.4 Billion Passengers in 2006
 |publisher   = Airports Council International
 |access-date  = 13 June 2008
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080222072049/http://www.airports.org/cda/aci_common/display/main/aci_content07_c.jsp?zn=aci&cp=1-5-54_666_2__
 |archive-date = 22 February 2008
}}</ref> The ACI defines and measures the following four types of airport traffic: passenger traffic, international passenger traffic, cargo traffic and aircraft movements.<ref name=ACI2025>{{cite web |title=The busiest airports in the world defy global uncertainty and hold top rankings |url=https://aci.aero/2025/04/14/the-busiest-airports-in-the-world-defy-global-uncertainty-and-hold-top-rankings/ |publisher=Airports Council International |access-date=19 October 2025 |date=14 April 2025}}</ref>

==Busiest airport by traffic type==

===Busiest airport by passenger traffic===
{{main|List of busiest airports by passenger traffic}}

'''[[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport]]''', [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[United States]] has been the busiest airport by passenger traffic since 2021.<ref name=ACI2025 /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170126/BLOGS02/170129876/worlds-busiest-airport-title-slips-further-from-ohares-grasp |title=World's busiest airport title slips further from O'Hare's grasp |access-date=14 February 2017 |newspaper=[[Crain's Chicago Business]]|date=26 January 2017 |author=Hinz, Greg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://aci.aero/2022/04/11/the-top-10-busiest-airports-in-the-world-revealed/|website=ACI World|title= The top 10 busiest airports in the world revealed |access-date=11 May 2022|publisher=Airports Council International|date=11 April 2022}}</ref> It was also the busiest airport from 1998-2019, only missing out in 2020 when it was passed by [[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]] in [[China]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/China-s-Guangzhou-airport-crowns-itself-the-world-s-busiest-for-2020 |title=China's Guangzhou airport crowns itself the world's busiest for 2020 |access-date=14 February 2021 |newspaper=[[Nikkei Asia]]|date=25 January 2021 |first=Kenji|last=Kawase}}</ref> Passenger traffic is defined by the ACI as the total passengers embarked and disembarked, but passengers in transit are only counted once.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.airports.org/cda/aci_common/display/main/aci_content07_c.jsp?zn=aci&cp=1-5-54-55_666_2__ 
 |title=Passenger Traffic 2007 Preliminary 
 |publisher=Airports Council International 
 |access-date=13 June 2008 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429194226/http://www.airports.org/cda/aci_common/display/main/aci_content07_c.jsp?zn=aci&cp=1-5-54-55_666_2__ 
 |archive-date=April 29, 2012 
}}</ref>

=== Busiest airport by international passenger traffic ===
{{main|List of busiest airports by international passenger traffic}}

[[File:Airbus A340-642X, Virgin Atlantic Airways AN1204296.jpg|thumb|[[Dubai International Airport]], the busiest airport by international passenger traffic]]

'''[[Dubai International Airport]]''', [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]] has served the most
international passengers annually since 2014.<ref name=ACI2025 /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/31/heathrow-airport-dubai-world-busiest |title=Heathrow airport overtaken by Dubai as world's busiest |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=31 December 2014 |access-date=8 January 2015}}</ref>

===Busiest airport by aircraft movements===
{{main|List of busiest airports by aircraft movements}}

'''Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport''' also tops the list for total aircraft movements, defined by the ACI as total landings and takeoffs.<ref name=ACI2025 /><ref name="07movements">
{{cite web
  |url=http://www.airports.org/cda/aci_common/display/main/aci_content07_c.jsp?zn=aci&cp=1-5-54-57_666_2__
  |title=Traffic Movements 2007 Preliminary
  |publisher=Airports Council International
  |access-date=13 June 2008
}}</ref> It has topped the list since 2015.<ref name="cnn">{{cite web | url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/04/aviation/worlds-busiest-airports/index.html | title=World's busiest airports announced | work=CNN | date=4 April 2016 | access-date=6 April 2016 | author=Cripps, Karla}}</ref>

===Busiest airport by cargo traffic===
{{Main|List of busiest airports by cargo traffic}}
'''[[Hong Kong International Airport]]''', [[New Territories]], [[Hong Kong]] is the busiest by cargo traffic and has held the top spot since 2022.<ref name=ACI2025 /> Previously, from 2020 to 2021, [[Memphis International Airport]] was the busiest cargo airport in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2011/03/16/world-airport-rankings-2010-hong-kong-eclipses-memphis-as-the-worlds-busiest-cargo-hub/page1|title=World Airport Rankings 2010 from Airports Council International|access-date=13 April 2011|year=2011|publisher=Airports Council International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214071536/https://centreforaviation.com/news/2011/03/16/world-airport-rankings-2010-hong-kong-eclipses-memphis-as-the-worlds-busiest-cargo-hub/page1|archive-date=14 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The busiest airport by cargo traffic is defined by the ACI as the airport which has handled the most loaded and unloaded freight and mail, by mass.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.airports.org/cda/aci_common/display/main/aci_content07_c.jsp?zn=aci&cp=1-5-54-4819_666_2__
 |title       = Cargo Traffic 2007 Preliminary
 |publisher   = Airports Council International
 |access-date  = 13 June 2008
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20080622012135/http://www.airports.org/cda/aci_common/display/main/aci_content07_c.jsp?zn=aci&cp=1-5-54-4819_666_2__
 |archive-date = 22 June 2008
}}</ref>

== Busiest city destination ==
{{main|List of busiest city airport systems by passenger traffic}}
The [[Airports of London]] combined make '''London, United Kingdom''' the busiest city destination. The city transports the most passengers annually across all of its airports, and has been the busiest city destination since 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centreforaviation.com/analysis/beijing-to-overtake-london-as-worlds-largest-aviation-hub-massive-new-airport-planned-58776 |title=Beijing to overtake London as world's largest aviation hub |publisher=CAPA |date=16 September 2011 |access-date=21 September 2011}}</ref>
==Busiest airport by continent==
[[File:2017-09-14-056sams4.jpg|thumb|Cairo International Airport, the busiest airport in Africa]]
===Busiest airport in Africa===
{{main|List of the busiest airports in Africa}}

'''[[Cairo International Airport]]''' in [[Egypt]] has been the busiest airport in Africa since 2020.

==== By country ====
* [[List of the busiest airports in Morocco]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in South Africa]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Tanzania]]

===Busiest airport in Asia===
[[File:Emirates - B777-31H(ER) - Raihan Bakhsh.jpg|thumb|[[Dubai International Airport]], the busiest airport in Asia]]

{{main|List of the busiest airports in Asia}}

'''Dubai International Airport''', United Arab Emirates is the busiest airport in Asia.

==== By region ====
* [[List of the busiest airports in the Middle East]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in the former Soviet Union]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Southeast Asia]]
==== By country ====
{{cols|colwidth=20em}}
* [[List of the busiest airports in Armenia]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in China]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Georgia (country)|List of the busiest airports in Georgia]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in India]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Indonesia]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Iran]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Japan]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Kazakhstan]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Malaysia]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Nepal]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Pakistan]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in the Philippines]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Russia]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in South Korea]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Taiwan]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Thailand]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Turkey]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Vietnam]]
{{colend}}

===Busiest airport in Europe===
[[File:Heathrow T5.jpg|thumb|[[London Heathrow Airport]] Terminal 5 serving [[London]], United Kingdom, the [[List of the busiest airports in Europe|busiest airport in Europe]]]]

{{main|List of the busiest airports in Europe}}

'''[[London Heathrow Airport]]''', [[London]], [[United Kingdom]] is the busiest airport in Europe.

==== By region ====
* [[List of the busiest airports in the Baltic states]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in the European Union]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in the Nordic countries]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in the former Soviet Union]]

==== By country ====
{{cols|colwidth=20em}}
* [[List of the busiest airports in Austria]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Belgium]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Bulgaria]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Croatia]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in France]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Germany]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Greece]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Hungary]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Ireland]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Italy]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in the Netherlands]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Poland]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Portugal]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Romania]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Russia]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Spain]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Switzerland]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Turkey]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Ukraine]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in the United Kingdom]]
{{colend}}

===Busiest airport in North America===
[[File:ATL(1) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in North America]]

{{main|List of the busiest airports in North America}}

'''Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport''', Georgia, United States is the busiest airport in North America.

==== By region ====
* [[List of the busiest airports in the Caribbean]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Central America]]
*[[List of the busiest airports in Latin America]]
==== By country ====
{{cols|colwidth=25em}}
* [[List of the busiest airports in Canada]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Dominican Republic]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Mexico]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in the United States]]
** [[List of largest cargo airports in the United States|List of the busiest cargo airports in the United States]]
** [[List of the busiest airports in California]]
** [[List of the busiest airports in Texas]]
{{colend}}

===Busiest airport in Oceania===
[[File:At_Sydney_Airport_Terminal_3_in_December_2022,_13.jpg|thumb|Sydney Airport, the busiest airport in Oceania]]

{{main|List of the busiest airports in Oceania}}

'''[[Sydney Airport]]''', [[Australia]] is the busiest airport in Oceania as of 2017.

==== By country ====
* [[List of the busiest airports in Australia]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in New Zealand]]

===Busiest airport in South America===
[[File:El_Dorado_Aiport.JPG|thumb|El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, the busiest airport in South America]]

{{main|List of the busiest airports in South America}}

'''[[El Dorado International Airport]]''', [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]] is the busiest airport in South America as of 2022.

==== By region ====
*[[List of the busiest airports in Latin America]]
==== By country ====
{{cols|colwidth=25em}}
* [[List of the busiest airports in Argentina]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Brazil]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Chile]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Colombia]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Ecuador]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Paraguay]]
* [[List of the busiest airports in Peru]]
{{colend}}

==Historical claims==
*'''[[Midway International Airport]]''', [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], United States
:In the late 1940s, Chicago Midway was the busiest airport in the United States by total aircraft operations – i.e., including every training aircraft practicing take-offs and landings.<ref>''American Aviation'' 15 Mar 1947, 15 Mar 1948, 15 Apr 1949, 15 Apr 1950</ref> New York LaGuardia had the most airline operations and passengers until the early 1950s, when Chicago Midway became the busiest airport in the United States by any criterion. Before World War II, Chicago Midway was the origin or destination of one in four U.S. airline flights,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.thetracon.com/Region%20leads%20the%20way%20in%20flight.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20021219204002/http://www.thetracon.com/Region%20leads%20the%20way%20in%20flight.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 19 December 2002 |title=Region leads the way in flight |access-date=7 March 2008 |date=18 July 1999 |first=Michelle|last=Mullins}}</ref> although a 1939 Official Aviation Guide shows more airline flights scheduled at Newark than at Chicago.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}

*'''[[Memphis International Airport]]''', [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], [[Tennessee]], United States
:As the home of [[FedEx Express]], Memphis had the largest cargo operations worldwide from 1993 to 2009. It remains the busiest cargo airport in the United States and the Western Hemisphere.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aci.aero/News/Releases/Most-Recent/2014/03/31/Preliminary-World-Airport-Traffic-and-Rankings-2013--High-Growth-Dubai-Moves-Up-to-7th-Busiest-Airport- |title=Table 2 – TOTAL CARGO TRAFFIC 2013 – Preliminary World Airport Traffic and Rankings 2013 – High Growth Dubai Moves Up to 7th Busiest Airport – Mar 31, 2014 |date=March 31, 2014 |access-date=2014-07-06 |publisher=Airports Council International}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Aviation|Transport}}
* [[Lists of airports]]
* [[List of countries by airline passengers]]
* [[Largest airlines in the world]]
* [[List of busiest railway stations]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.aci.aero Airports Council International website.] A representative industry body for the airport industry that provides air travel statistics.

{{List of airports|state=expanded}}
{{Lists of the busiest airports by continent}}
{{Aviation statistics}}

[[Category:Lists of busiest airports| ]]

[[de:Liste der größten Verkehrsflughäfen]]