The busiest airports in the world defy global uncertainty and hold top rankings: ACI

Airports Council Worldwide (ACI) World presents an unique first have a look at the 2024 rankings of the world’s busiest airports, showcasing their resilience in navigating international uncertainty. Regardless of geopolitical and financial challenges, these airports have efficiently held their high rankings, positioning themselves for continued progress.
ACI World Director Common Justin Erbacci mentioned, “Amid international challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines. These hubs are important arteries of commerce, commerce, and connectivity. As air journey grows, ACI World stands able to assist its members, making certain the graceful move of individuals and items that drive international financial, social, and cultural progress.”

Passenger visitors highlights
• Preliminary figures point out that the 2024 international complete passengers are near 9.5 billion, representing a rise of 9% from 2023 or a acquire of three.8% from pre-pandemic ranges (2019).
• The High 10 busiest airports, representing 9% of world visitors (855 million passengers), witnessed a acquire of 8.8% from 2023 and a acquire of 8.4% vis-à-vis their 2019 outcomes (789 million pax in 2019).
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport defends its high place, adopted by Dubai Worldwide Airport and Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport.
• The most important soar within the High 10 rankings was recorded for Shanghai Pudong Worldwide Airport, going from twenty first place in 2023 to the tenth spot in 2024. The soar was fueled by expanded visa insurance policies, the resumption and enlargement of worldwide flights, operational enhancements, and the restoration of the Asia-Pacific area, notably China.
• The unwavering energy of Istanbul Airport and New Delhi Worldwide Airport hold them in high ranks, marking important progress over 2019. Each airports have been thriving as a consequence of airline enlargement, infrastructure progress, and enhanced international connectivity.

Navigating international uncertainty

2024 noticed international passenger progress face important uncertainties that stemmed from evolving financial and geopolitical landscapes. Ongoing provide chain challenges and manufacturing delays from plane producers, in addition to geopolitical tensions, posed a threat to progress alternatives by doubtlessly altering flight routes, growing operational prices, and affecting passenger sentiment. Moreover, the specter of tariffs raised issues about potential disruptions to international commerce, which not directly affected worldwide journey demand and elevated constructions.

In 2025, international passenger visitors is forecast to succeed in 9.9 billion with a 4.8% year-over-year progress charge. Whereas passenger demand stays sturdy, the tempo of enlargement is predicted to sluggish as markets shift from recovery-driven surges to structural, long-term progress patterns.

Key challenges resembling financial uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and capability constraints are anticipated to more and more form the business’s trajectory. In superior markets, demand stabilization, provide chain bottlenecks in plane manufacturing and airport capability scarcity could mood progress, whereas in rising markets, increased infrastructure funding and rising middle-class journey demand will seemingly proceed to drive enlargement. Because the business strikes into a brand new period of progress, the airport business should deal with monetary viability, funding in infrastructure, operational effectivity, and sustainability.

Cargo visitors highlights

• Air cargo volumes are estimated to have elevated by 8.4% year-over-year (+3.9% versus 2019), to over 124 million metric tonnes in 2024.

• Air cargo volumes within the high 10 airports–representing near 26% (32.3 million metric tonnes) of the worldwide volumes in 2024—gained 9.3% in 2024 year-over-year or a acquire of 9.5% vis-à-vis their 2019 outcomes (29.5 million tonnes in 2019). Air cargo visitors is extra concentrated amongst the principle airports.

• The rise in cargo is attributed primarily to sturdy e-commerce demand, maritime delivery disruptions, and declines in jet gasoline costs.

• Hong Kong Worldwide Airport remained the highest rank, adopted by Shanghai Pudong Worldwide Airport and Memphis Worldwide Airport.

Plane actions
• 2024 international plane actions are estimated to be round 100 million, representing a acquire of 4.3% from 2023 or -2.6% vs 2019 (i.e., a restoration of 97.4%).

• The High 10 airports representing over 6% of world visitors (6.4 million actions), witnessed a acquire of 6.5% from their 2023 outcomes or a slight acquire of 0.4% vis-à-vis their 2019 outcomes (6.3 million).

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport is on the high, adopted by Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport and Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport.