Busiest airports in the world

Busiest airports in the world at a glance

• Busiest Global (International + Domestic Capacity) Airport: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) 
• Busiest International Airport: London Heathrow Airport (LHR) 
• Busiest European Airport: Istanbul Airport (IST) 

Busiest airports in the world (all capacity)

 Which is the busiest airport in the world?

• In April 2026, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) ranks as the world’s busiest airport with 5.35 million seats, a 3% increase in capacity compared with April 2025.
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) moves up to second place with 4.80 million seats, posting a strong 18% year-on-year growth, the highest among the Top 10.
• Tokyo International Airport (HND) is in third position with 4.50 million seats, although capacity has declined slightly by 1% compared with last year.
• Istanbul Airport (IST) ranks fourth with 4.35 million seats, with capacity up 4% year-on-year, while London Heathrow Airport (LHR) falls to fifth place with 4.30 million seats, recording a 2% decline.
• In China, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) rank sixth and seventh place respectively, both showing solid growth of 4% to reach just under 4.30 million seats.
• Further down the ranking, Delhi (DEL) is one of the stronger performing airports in terms of capacity growth year-on-year, with seats growing by 6% to 4.10 million seats, and is in ninth place.
  

Busiest international airport in the world

Which is the busiest international airport in the world?

• With the temporary removal of Dubai International (DXB) from the rankings, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) ranks as the world’s busiest international airport in April 2026, handling 4.04 million seats, although capacity is down by 2% compared with April 2025.

• Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) rises to second place with 3.63 million seats, recording strong capacity growth of 8% year-on-year. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) holds third position with 3.56 million seats, up 2%, while Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) follows closely in fourth place, also growing 2% to 3.52 million seats.

• Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) ranks fifth with 3.46 million seats, showing strong capacity growth of 8% compared to last year. Istanbul Airport (IST) is in sixth place and continues its steady expansion, rising 3% to 3.45 million seats. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is in seventh position with 3.33 million seats, also up 3% year-on-year. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) rounds out the Top 10 with the strongest capacity growth rate of 11% to reach 2.59 million seats.
  

Busiest European airports

 Which is Europe's top airport?

• For the first time, Istanbul Airport (IST) becomes Europe’s busiest airport in April 2026, handling 4.35 million seats - a 4% increase in capacity compared with April 2025. While Turkiye is not actually part of the European Union, and it does span two continents (Europe and Asia), the country has long been categorised by IATA as part of Europe, due to Europe accounting for the largest share of its passenger flows.
• London Heathrow Airport (LHR) moves into second place with 4.30 million seats, though capacity is down by 2% year-on-year. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) ranks third with 3.68 million seats, recording solid capacity growth of 4%, while Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) remains in fourth position, up 2% to 3.52 million seats. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) rounds out the top five with modest growth of 1% to 3.47 million seats.
• Madrid Adolfo Suárez–Barajas Airport (MAD) records one of the strongest capacity increases in the Top 10, rising 7% to 3.33 million seats, and is in sixth place. Barcelona Airport (BCN) also posts strong capacity growth of 6% to 3.01 million seats and is in seventh place. Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) records steady growth of 2% to 2.73 million seats.
• In contrast, Munich Airport (MUC) and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) both record slight declines of 2% and 1% respectively.