Dubai has topped the rankings as the busiest airport in the world among all GCC countries. Globally, Dubai International Airport (DXB) ranked fifth, according to Airports Council International. The rankings accounted for total passengers including those enplaned, deplaned and in transit.
On the international passengers chart, Dubai took the lead at the top spot for the ninth consecutive year.
Global passenger traffic in 2022 reached nearly seven billion, 53.5 percent increase from the previous year.
The top 10 airports alone hold over 10 percent of global passenger traffic.
Of the 10 top airports globally, five spots were held by airports in the US. The biggest jump was recorded by London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said, “The new top 10 busiest airports for passenger traffic reflects the resilience of the airport and aviation industry, and the eagerness of passengers to travel by air. While US airport hubs were able to recover quicker due to their strong domestic market, we are now witnessing global hubs joining upper ranks—including Dubai, Istanbul, and London Heathrow airport. While we continue to march forward cautiously amidst multiple headwinds that could impact the speed and magnitude of global air traffic recovery, the latest rankings represent an important milestone in reaching pre-pandemic levels. The re-opening of China, the second largest aviation market after the US, is now expected to bring an overall gain, both domestically and for international travel.”
“The ongoing recovery of air travel demand would not be possible without the continuous work of airports to provide a safe, secure, efficient, and sustainable air transport ecosystem for the passengers that we depend on and the communities we serve. ACI World will remain committed to representing the best interests of airports on the global stage during key phases of policy development and to promoting airport excellence,” he added.
| Airport | Passengers |
| Atlanta GA, US (ATL) | 93,669,630 |
| Dallas, Fort Worth TX, US (DFW) | 73,362,946 |
| Denver CO, US (DEN) | 69,286,461 |
| Chicago IL, US (ORD) | 68,340,619 |
| Dubai, AE (DXB) | 66,069,981 |
| Los Angeles CA, US (LAX) | 65,924,298 |
| Istanbul, TR (IST) | 64,289,107 |
| London, GB (LHR) | 61,614,508 |
| New Delhi, IN (DEL) | 59,490,074 |
| Paris, FR (CDG) | 57,474,033 |
According to Dubai Airports chief executive officer Paul Griffiths, the title “comes as no surprise given Dubai International’s stellar performance throughout 2022 and the upsurge in traffic in the final quarter.”
“The increase in demand for air travel was universal in 2022, but what set DXB apart was the dedication of our people and the meticulous planning and preparation by each and every service partner that makes up Dubai’s amazing airport community,” Griffiths said in a statement.
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