THE BUSIEST Airports OF 2025
WHAT WERE THE WORLD’S BUSIEST AIRportS IN 2025?
Introducing the World's Busiest Airports of 2025, powered by OAG's Global Airline Schedules Data. Based on full-year 2025 schedules data (January-December), the report also incorporates 2024 and 2019 data to provide year-on-year (YoY) and pre-pandemic comparisons. Discover which airports ranked as the busiest globally, internationally, and across Europe in 2025.
Let’s jump to the data and insights…
EXPLORE THE WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORTS
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= Global (International + Domestic)
= International
= European
The busiest airports are concentrated largely in North America and Asia due to the very large domestic markets in the United States and China, with four airports in North America and three in Asia alongside two in Europe and one in the Middle East.
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) retained its position as the World’s Busiest Airport in 2025 with 63.1 million seats, maintaining its long-standing lead from both 2024 and 2019.
- Airline capacity at ATL has increased by 1% compared to 2024 and is at a similar level to 2019, behind by just 221,207 seats.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) - although busier than Atlanta for some months of the year - remained the second-busiest airport globally with 62.4 million seats.
- DXB’s airline capacity has seen significant growth since 2019 with seats increasing by 16% and capacity growing by 4% year-on-year, so it may not be long until it reaches the number 1 position.
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) is in third place with 55.4 million seats, showing no significant year-on-year change, but still 1% above 2019 levels.
Chicago O’Hare (ORD) ranked as the eighth busiest global airport in 2025, while Istanbul Airport (IST) moved up into fifth place.
- Both airports recorded the largest year-on-year airline capacity increases, with seat capacity up 8% at ORD and 6% at IST compared to last year.
- ORD has now returned to its 2019 capacity levels.
- IST has grown significantly with capacity now 22% higher than 2019 levels.
Denver International Airport (DEN) recorded the largest capacity growth in the top ten airports compared to 2019, with seat capacity 24% higher. However, growth year-on-year was just 1%.
Compared to 2019, the Top 10 Busiest Global Airports in 2025 included four new additions:
- Istanbul Airport (IST) in 5th place in 2025 and 16th in 2019.
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) ranked 6th in 2025 and 13th in 2019.
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) was in 9th place in 2025 and 12th place in 2019.
- Denver International Airport (DEN) ranked in 10th place in 2025 and 21st in 2019.
WHAT WERE the Busiest International Airports OF 2025?
Dubai International Airport (DXB) retained its position as the World’s Busiest International Airport in 2025 with 62.4 million international seats, maintaining its long-standing lead from 2024, 2023 and 2019.
- Airline capacity at DXB has continued to grow strongly, increasing by 4% year-on-year, and is now 16% above 2019 levels.
- In 2025, DXB had 13.5m more international seats than the next biggest international airport, London Heathrow (LHR).
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is in second place in 2025 with 49.0 million international seats, a 1% increase compared to 2024 and 4% above 2019 levels.
Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) retained third position with 43.0 million seats, growing by 3% compared to 2024 and now sitting 2% above 2019, signalling a full recovery in international travel at the airport.
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) ranked fourth with 42.6 million seats, a 3% year-on-year increase, bringing capacity back in line with 2019 levels.
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) recorded the largest year-on-year increase in the top ten, growing by 12% up to 38.7 million seats in 2025, moving it into eighth place. Despite this strong recovery, HKG remains 14% below 2019 capacity levels.
Istanbul Airport (IST) also recorded very strong growth in 2025, reaching 41.2 million international seats, a 7% increase from 2024. IST has seen the largest growth compared to 2019, up 27%, reflecting its rapid emergence as a major global hub.
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) ranked ninth with 36.4 million seats, a 2% increase vs 2024, but still 8% behind 2019.
Doha (DOH) retains tenth place in the top ten busiest international airports with 32.7 million seats, up 1% year-on-year and 20% ahead of 2019.
WHAT WERE the Busiest European Airports in 2025?
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) remained Europe’s Busiest Airport in 2025 with 52.1 million seats, a 1% increase compared to 2024, and 4% above 2019 levels.
Istanbul Airport (IST) also held onto second place with 51.5 million seats, recording a strong 6% rise year-on-year.
- IST has seen the largest long-term increase of any airport in the European top 10, with capacity now 22% above 2019.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) ranked third with 43.2 million seats, up 3% from 2024, though still 4% below 2019 levels.
- Despite a steady annual recovery, CDG has not yet fully returned to pre-pandemic capacity.
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) reported the largest year-on-year increase in capacity of the top ten, growing by 15% in 2025, reaching 28.6 million seats.
- SAW also recorded the fastest long-term growth, with capacity now 37% above 2019, reflecting its rapid rise as a major low-cost and regional hub.
In 2025, Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and Munich International Airport (MUC) were the furthest behind 2019 capacity levels in the top ten, FRA at 10% and MUC at 12% lower.
- However, both airports have seen growth compared to 2024 at 3% and 5% respectively.
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RANKING METHODOLOGY
SEATS
The rankings are based on scheduled capacity for the year 2025 and compared to 2024 and 2019. 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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