Busiest airports in the world
Which is the busiest airport in the world?
October 2026
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What are the world's busiest airports in October 2026?
Top 10 global airports — how have the rankings changed?
| Code | Airport | Seats | YoY | Δ |
|---|
Further down the rankings, Dubai International Airport (DXB) ranks sixth with 4.57 million seats but continues to record the largest decline among the top ten, with capacity 15% below last year's levels. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) follows in seventh with 4.56 million seats, posting solid 5% year-on-year growth, while Denver International Airport (DEN) ranks eighth with 4.40 million seats, increasing capacity by 2%. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) ranks ninth with 4.39 million seats, recording a 2% decline compared with October 2025, while Istanbul Airport (IST) completes the top ten with 4.37 million seats, declining by 4% year-on-year.
Which are the world's busiest international airports?
Dubai International Airport (DXB) retains its position as the World's Busiest International Airport with 4.57 million seats in October 2026, despite capacity remaining 15% below 2025 levels. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) remains second with 4.12 million seats, recording a 2% year-on-year decline. Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) ranks third with 3.94 million seats and records the strongest growth among the top ten international airports, increasing capacity by 6% compared with last year. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) remains fourth with 3.72 million seats, increasing capacity by 1%, while Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) moves into fifth with 3.68 million seats, posting 3% year-on-year growth.
Top 10 international airports — international seats only
| Code | Airport | Int’l Seats | YoY | Δ |
|---|
Istanbul Airport (IST) ranks sixth with 3.56 million international seats, declining by 2% compared with October 2025. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) follows in seventh with 3.47 million seats, recording 2% growth, while Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) ranks eighth with 3.46 million seats and posts strong 5% year-on-year growth. Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) is ninth with 3.39 million seats, increasing capacity by 2%, while Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) rounds out the top ten with 2.76 million seats, recording 4% growth compared with October 2025.
Which are Europe's busiest airports in October 2026?
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) becomes Europe's Busiest Airport in October 2026, offering 4.39 million seats, despite capacity declining by 2% compared with October 2025. Istanbul Airport (IST) moves into second place with 4.37 million seats, recording a 4% year-on-year decline. There are only 17,112 (0.4%) seats between first and second place. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) ranks third with 3.81 million seats, increasing capacity by 3%, while Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) moves into fourth with 3.72 million seats, recording 1% growth. Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) completes the top five with 3.72 million seats, with capacity broadly unchanged compared with last year.
European top 10 — capacity and year-on-year change
| Code | Airport | Seats | YoY | Δ |
|---|
Madrid Adolfo Suárez–Barajas Airport (MAD) continues to be one of Europe's strongest-performing major airports, increasing capacity by 7% year-on-year to 3.59 million seats in sixth place. Barcelona Airport (BCN) follows in seventh with 3.08 million seats, recording 2% growth, while Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) ranks eighth with 2.95 million seats and posts strong 6% growth. Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) follows in ninth with 2.71 million seats, also increasing capacity by 6%. Munich Airport (MUC) rounds out the top ten with 2.56 million seats, declining by 2% compared with October 2025.
October 2026 airport capacity data
Full scheduled seat data for all airports featured in OAG’s October 2026 rankings. The biggest capacity changes this month: Guangzhou Baiyun climbed six places globally (10th to 4th) posting 8% growth; Chicago O’Hare climbed two places (4th to 2nd) with 8% growth; Istanbul Airport fell five places globally (5th to 10th), declining 4%; Dubai International retains the international top spot but remains −15% year-on-year; Seoul Incheon recorded the strongest international growth at +6%; Bangkok Suvarnabhumi entered the international top 10 (11th to 10th); London Heathrow overtook Istanbul as Europe’s busiest airport by just 17,112 seats; Madrid Barajas posted the fastest European growth at +7%.
Top 10 global airports — October 2026 (total seats)
| # | Code | Airport | Seats | YoY | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATL | Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Intl | 5,443,173 | — | 1 |
| 2 | ORD | Chicago O’Hare International | 5,004,041 | +8% | 4 |
| 3 | HND | Tokyo Haneda | 4,740,189 | +1% | 3 |
| 4 | CAN | Guangzhou Baiyun International | 4,665,425 | +8% | 10 |
| 5 | PVG | Shanghai Pudong International | 4,658,154 | +6% | 7 |
| 6 | DXB | Dubai International | 4,569,653 | −15% | 2 |
| 7 | DFW | Dallas/Fort Worth International | 4,559,582 | +5% | 8 |
| 8 | DEN | Denver International | 4,399,744 | +2% | 9 |
| 9 | LHR | London Heathrow | 4,387,702 | −2% | 6 |
| 10 | IST | Istanbul Airport | 4,370,590 | −4% | 5 |
Top 10 international airports — October 2026 (international seats only)
| # | Code | Airport | Int’l Seats | YoY | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DXB | Dubai International | 4,569,653 | −15% | 1 |
| 2 | LHR | London Heathrow | 4,120,736 | −2% | 2 |
| 3 | ICN | Seoul Incheon International | 3,940,237 | +6% | 3 |
| 4 | AMS | Amsterdam Schiphol | 3,723,148 | +1% | 4 |
| 5 | SIN | Singapore Changi | 3,675,939 | +3% | 6 |
| 6 | IST | Istanbul Airport | 3,562,232 | −2% | 5 |
| 7 | CDG | Paris Charles de Gaulle | 3,471,599 | +2% | 7 |
| 8 | HKG | Hong Kong International | 3,461,287 | +5% | 9 |
| 9 | FRA | Frankfurt International | 3,391,629 | +2% | 8 |
| 10 | BKK | Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International | 2,760,247 | +4% | 11 |
Top 10 European airports — October 2026 (total seats, Western Europe)
| # | Code | Airport | Seats | YoY | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LHR | London Heathrow | 4,387,702 | −2% | 2 |
| 2 | IST | Istanbul Airport | 4,370,590 | −4% | 1 |
| 3 | CDG | Paris Charles de Gaulle | 3,809,102 | +3% | 4 |
| 4 | AMS | Amsterdam Schiphol | 3,723,548 | +1% | 5 |
| 5 | FRA | Frankfurt International | 3,716,567 | — | 3 |
| 6 | MAD | Madrid Adolfo Suárez–Barajas | 3,589,607 | +7% | 6 |
| 7 | BCN | Barcelona | 3,078,006 | +2% | 7 |
| 8 | FCO | Rome Fiumicino | 2,949,138 | +6% | 8 |
| 9 | SAW | Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen | 2,709,131 | +6% | 10 |
| 10 | MUC | Munich International | 2,558,155 | −2% | 9 |
Busiest airports: frequently asked questions
View the World's Busiest Airports, with data powered by OAG's Schedules Analyser.
We provide separate lists for global airports and international airports. 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 focus on international airline capacity only. The data is updated each month and is available to download by clicking the button below.
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In October 2026, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) remains the World's Busiest Airport with 5.44 million seats, with capacity broadly unchanged compared with October 2025. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) retains second place with 5.00 million seats, recording strong 8% year-on-year growth. Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) moves into third with 4.74 million seats, increasing capacity by 1%, while Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) climbs to fourth with 4.67 million seats, also recording strong 8% growth compared with last year. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) completes the top five with 4.66 million seats, increasing capacity by 6% compared with October 2025.