By Youssef Yahya 
In 2023, the landscape of global air travel witnessed notable changes, with certain airports emerging as key players in handling passenger traffic. Drawing on data from OAG.com, this article delves into the busiest airports of 2023 globally. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) retains its top spot, while other airports like Dubai International and Tokyo Haneda show significant activity.Atlanta Leads as the Busiest Global Airport in 2023
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) retains its title as the busiest airport worldwide in 2023, boasting 61 million seats, according to OAG.com. This marks a 12% increase from the previous year, positioning ATL just 3% below its 2019 levels. ATL has consistently held this top spot in both 2022 and 2019, underscoring its central role in global air travel. A detailed breakdown of ATL’s airline capacity over the years reflects the dynamic nature of the aviation industry and ATL’s adaptability amidst changing travel demands.
Dubai and Tokyo Secure Top Spots in Global Rankings
Dubai International Airport (DXB) follows closely as the second busiest airport in 2023 with 57 million seats. This represents a 5% increase compared to 2019, a year when DXB was the world’s fourth busiest airport. Tokyo International Airport (HND) claims the third spot with 53 million seats, while London Heathrow (LHR) ranks fourth with 49 million seats.
Significantly, the top 10 list for 2023 includes four airports that did not feature in the 2019 rankings. These are Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), Istanbul Airport (IST), and Guangzhou (CAN), showcasing shifts in global air travel patterns and emerging airport hubs.
| 2023 Ranking | Airport Code | Airport Name | Seats | 2022 Ranking | 2019 Ranking |
| 1 | ATL | Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Intl Apt | 61,226,507 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | DXB | Dubai International | 56,504,042 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | HND | Tokyo Intl (Haneda) | 52,692,487 | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | LHR | London Heathrow Apt | 49,370,859 | 7 | 7 |
| 5 | DFW | Dallas Dallas/Fort Worth Intl Apt | 48,083,921 | 3 | 13 |
| 6 | DEN | Denver Intl Apt | 46,743,622 | 5 | 21 |
| 7 | IST | Istanbul Airport | 46,399,238 | 10 | 16 |
| 8 | LAX | Los Angeles International Apt | 44,482,633 | 8 | 5 |
| 9 | ORD | Chicago O’Hare International Apt | 43,708,796 | 6 | 6 |
| 10 | CAN | Guangzhou (CN) | 43,425,916 | 16 | 12 |
Dubai International Airport (DXB) leads as the busiest international airport in 2023, a position it has maintained since 2019. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) ranks second with 47 million seats, showing significant growth compared to 2022. Amsterdam Airport (AMS) and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) follow, with AMS experiencing a 10% decrease and CDG an 11% decrease compared to 2019 levels. Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN), the only Asian airport in the top 10, has seen the largest decrease in capacity compared to 2019, with a 20% drop.
| 2023 Ranking | Airport Code | Airport Name | Seats (Total) | 2022 Ranking | 2019 Ranking |
| 1 | DXB | Dubai International | 56,504,042 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | LHR | London Heathrow Apt | 46,521,295 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | AMS | Amsterdam | 37,172,424 | 3 | 6 |
| 4 | CDG | Paris Charles de Gaulle Apt | 36,676,928 | 4 | 7 |
| 5 | SIN | Singapore Changi Apt | 36,136,334 | 8 | 4 |
| 6 | IST | Istanbul Airport | 35,915,798 | 5 | 10 |
| 7 | ICN | Seoul Incheon International Airport | 33,704,264 | 26 | 5 |
| 8 | FRA | Frankfurt International Apt | 33,519,909 | 6 | 8 |
| 9 | DOH | Doha (QA) | 28,668,040 | 7 | 13 |
| 10 | MAD | Madrid Adolfo Suarez-Barajas Apt | 25,032,355 | 9 | 14 |
The busiest airports by region in 2023
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) emerges as 2023’s busiest airport in Europe with 49 million seats. This reflects a slight decrease from 2019 levels but a notable 23% year-on-year increase. Istanbul Airport (IST) ranks second, surpassing its 2019 capacity, while Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Amsterdam Airport (AMS) occupy the third and fourth positions, respectively. Munich Airport (MUC) has experienced the most significant decrease in airline capacity since 2019, with a 26% reduction.
The busiest airports by region in 2023, as reported by OAG.com, are Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) in Asia Pacific, Dubai International (DXB) in Europe, Middle East & Africa, Mexico City Juarez International (MEX) in Latin America, and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International (ATL) in North America.
Cover photo by Steve Schaefe via The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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