By the numbers: Why Dubai International Airport is world’s busiest
The airport welcomed 92.3 million guests in 2024, surpassing its previous all-time high of 89.1 million in 2018
Dubai International Airport remains the world’s busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic for 2024, according to a report released today by Airports Council International (ACI) World.
According to a WAM report, global passenger traffic in 2024 totalled 9.5 billion, marking an increase of 9 per cent from 2023, and a gain of 3.8 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Read-DXB: How many passengers did Dubai airport handle in 2024?
The 10 busiest airports, representing 9 per cent of global traffic (855 million passengers), recorded an increase of 8.8 per cent from 2023, and an 8.4 per cent rise compared to their 2019 results (789 million passengers in 2019).
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retained its top position, followed by Dubai International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Air cargo volumes are estimated to have increased by 8.4 per cent year-over-year (up 3.9 per cent versus 2019), reaching over 124 million metric tonnes in 2024.
“Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines. These hubs are vital arteries of trade, commerce, and connectivity. As air travel grows, ACI World stands ready to support its members, ensuring the smooth flow of people and goods that drive global economic, social, and cultural progress,” said ACI World Director-General Justin Erbacci.
What sets Dubai International Airport apart?
- The airport welcomed 92.3 million guests in 2024, surpassing its previous all-time high of 89.1 million in 2018.
- The 2024 results exceeded forecasts by nearly 200,000 guests, underscoring DXB’s strong global appeal.
- Over the past decade, DXB has welcomed more than 700 million guests across over 3.3 million flights.
- Since 2014, DXB has topped Airports Council International’s rankings as the world’s busiest international airport.
New benchmarks
- With connections to 272 destinations across 107 countries served by 106 international airlines, DXB continues to set the standard as one of the world’s most connected airports.
- DXB handled 2.2 million tonnes of cargo in 2024, a sharp increase of 20.5 per cent from the previous year, when the hub registered 1.8 million tonnes.
- Total flight movements rose by 5.7 per cent in 2024 to reach 440,300, with a load factor of 78.1 — a marginal increase of 0.3 per cent for the year.
