BUSIEST AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD

WHICH IS THE BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD THIS MONTH?

View and interrogate the World's Busiest Airports, with data powered by OAG's Schedules Analyser.

The Top 10 Busiest Global Airports in the World are calculated using total airline capacity (domestic and international flights). The Top 10 Busiest International Airports are calculated using international airline capacity only.  The data is updated each month and is available to download by clicking the button below.

BUSIEST GLOBAL AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD | MAY 2025

Which is the Busiest AIrport in the World?

  • In May 2025, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is ranked the Busiest Global Airport with 5.5 million seats, with capacity unchanged compared to May 2024. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is in second place with 5.2 million seats, a 3% increase in capacity compared to last year. Tokyo International Airport (HND) is the third busiest airport with 4.7 million seats, with capacity slightly lower than last year by 1%.

  • Within the Top 10 Busiest Global Airports, Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) had the biggest increase in capacity in May 2025 compared to May 2024 with seats increasing by 7%. The American airport has had an increase in the global ranking, up to 6th place this month compared to 8th position last May. Looking back at May 2019 global ranking shows Dubai International Airport (DXB) has moved up the most places in the period to 2025, up to 2nd position this May compared to 18th position in May 2019, a move up of 16 places and from 3.4 million seats to 5.5 million.

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BUSIEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD | MAY 2025

which is the busiest international airport in the world?

  • Dubai International Airport (DXB) retains its position in May 2025 as the World’s Busiest International Airport with 5.2 million seats. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is in second place with 4.3 million seats and Amsterdam has moved up a place to be the third busiest international airport with 3.7 million seats. With capacity only 2% lower, Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) has moved down a place to be the fourth busiest international airport this month with 3.6 million seats.

  • Hong Kong (HKG) continues to have had the most significant capacity increase in the Top 10 compared to last year, with an increase of 13% which equates to an additional 369,442 seats on last year.

  • The Top 10 World’s Busiest International Airports this month are the same 10 airports as May 2024, with only the order of the Top 10 changing - Istanbul Airport (IST) is up one place to 6th this year and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is down one place to 7th this year.

BUSIEST EUROPEAN AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD | MAY 2025

Which is Europe's Busiest Airport?

  • London Heathrow Airport (LHR) remains Europe’s busiest airport in May 2025, a position it also held in May 2024 and May 2019. The London airport’s seat capacity for this month stands at 4.5 million seats, a 1% increase compared to last year. Istanbul Airport (IST) is the second busiest airport in Europe with 4.3 million seats with capacity increasing by 4%. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is the third busiest airport with 3.7 million seats, a 2% increase in capacity compared to May 2024.

  • Continuing on from the trend of recent months, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) remains the airport with the biggest increase in capacity, adding 13% more seats on May 2024. Due to this increase in capacity Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) has moved up to be the 10th busiest airport in Europe in May 2025 and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) has dropped out of the Top 10. Madrid (MAD) is the airport in the Top 10 showing the slowest growth rate this month, with capacity dropping by 2%, compared to an average growth rate of 4% for the airports in the Top 10.
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RANKING METHODOLOGY

SEATS

The rankings are based on scheduled capacity in the current month and compared to the equivalent month in 2024. The Top 10 Busiest Airports are calculated using total capacity (domestic and international) and The Top 10 Busiest International Airports are calculated using international seats only.

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