Busiest Airports in the World | OAG

Which is the Busiest AIrport in the World?

In December 2025, Dubai International Airport (DXB) remains the world’s busiest airport with 5.50 million seats, a 4% increase compared to December 2024. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) ranks second this month with 5.21 million seats, with similar capacity to last year. Tokyo Haneda (HND) takes third place with 4.68 million seats, a slight 1% decline compared to last December.
Several airports saw notable growth this month. Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) handled 4.43 million seats, up 12%, placing it in fourth, while Shanghai Pudong (PVG) grew 7% to 4.32 million seats, taking sixth position. Delhi (DEL) recorded a 9% increase to 4.31 million seats, and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) also rose 9% to 4.12 million seats, moving into the Top 10.
The biggest declines this month are modest. Tokyo Haneda (HND) saw a 1% decrease, while Atlanta (ATL) maintained flat capacity compared to December 2024. Other major hubs including London Heathrow (LHR), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and Istanbul (IST) recorded steady growth ranging from 1% to 6%.

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which is the busiest international airport in the world?

In December 2025, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is also the world’s busiest international airport with 5.50 million seats, a 4% increase compared to December 2024. London Heathrow (LHR) ranks second this month with 4.06 million seats, up 2% year-on-year, while Singapore Changi (SIN) takes third place with 3.74 million seats, maintaining similar capacity to last December. Seoul Incheon (ICN) holds fourth place with 3.71 million seats, a modest 1% increase.
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) has had the largest year-on-year capacity increase in the Top 10, with seats increasing by 10%, and is in fifth place with 3.51 million seats. Istanbul Airport (IST) has also seen strong growth year-on-year, with capacity increasing by 7% to 3.43 million seats, and is sixth in the rankings.
Other airports showing steady growth compared to last year include Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), up 3% to 3.29 million seats, and Amsterdam (AMS), up 2% to 3.26 million seats.

Which is Europe's Busiest Airport?

London Heathrow (LHR) continues to be Europe’s busiest airport in December 2025 with 4.35 million seats, a 2% increase compared to December 2024.
Istanbul Airport (IST) rises to second place with 4.22 million seats, showing strong year-on-year growth of 6%, while Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) ranks third with 3.60 million seats, up 3% on last December.
Madrid Adolfo Suarez-Barajas (MAD) is in fourth place with 3.33 million seats, a 2% increase in capacity compared to last year, while Amsterdam (AMS) holds fifth with 3.26 million seats, up 2% year-on-year.
Frankfurt (FRA) shows capacity growth of 4%, handling 3.06 million seats, and Barcelona (BCN) also grew 4% to 2.58 million seats, ranking seventh.
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) recorded the fastest growth among the Top 10, up 13% to 2.50 million seats, moving into eighth place. Rome Fiumicino (FCO) remained stable with 2.28 million seats, and Munich (MUC) rounded out the Top 10 with 2.05 million seats, up 3% year-on-year.

What makes these airports the busiest?

The top airports for capacity combine prime location, hub airlines, large-scale infrastructure, and strong economic or tourism pull

Why use capacity as a metric?

Capacity data and passenger numbers will tend to follow the same trend, but by using capacity data to determine the busiest airport we can look ahead to the upcoming month.

Are these the busiest airports by flights?

We define our busiest airports by capacity, which provides a forward-looking view of passenger-carrying potential. Measuring by flights instead reflects aircraft movements (takeoffs and landings) and highlights overall air traffic. Airports with heavy short-haul domestic schedules often rank high by flights, but this does not necessarily translate into greater passenger capacity.

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