Busiest airports in the world
Which is the busiest airport in the world?
August 2026
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What are the world's busiest airports in August 2026?
Top 10 global airports — how have the rankings changed?
| Code | Airport | Seats | YoY | Δ |
|---|
Further down the rankings, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) moves up to sixth place with 4.80 million seats, recording strong 9% growth compared with August 2025. Dubai International Airport (DXB) ranks seventh with 4.54 million seats but continues to record the largest decline among the top ten, with capacity remaining 15% below last year’s levels. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is eighth with 4.51 million seats, with capacity broadly unchanged year-on-year. Denver International Airport (DEN) follows in ninth place with 4.47 million seats, increasing capacity by 2%, while Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) completes the top ten with 4.41 million seats, recording modest 1% growth compared with August 2025.
Which are the world's busiest international airports?
In August 2026, Dubai International Airport (DXB) retains its position as the World’s Busiest International Airport with 4.54 million seats, despite capacity remaining 15% below August 2025 levels. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) remains second with 4.26 million seats, recording a modest 1% year-on-year decline. Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) climbs to third place with 3.95 million seats, increasing capacity by 3% compared with last year, while Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) ranks fourth with 3.85 million seats, recording 1% growth. Istanbul Airport (IST) completes the top five with 3.80 million seats, also posting modest 1% year-on-year growth.
Top 10 international airports — international seats only
| Code | Airport | Int’l Seats | YoY | Δ |
|---|
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) ranks sixth with 3.74 million seats, increasing capacity by 1% compared with August 2025. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) moves up to seventh with 3.64 million seats, recording solid 4% growth year-on-year. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) retains eighth place with 3.55 million seats, increasing capacity by 5% as international demand across Asia continues to strengthen. Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) remains ninth with 3.51 million seats, with capacity broadly unchanged compared with last year. Madrid Adolfo Suárez–Barajas Airport (MAD) rounds out the top ten with 2.78 million seats and records the strongest growth among Europe’s leading international hubs, increasing capacity by 6% year-on-year.
Which are Europe's busiest airports in August 2026?
Istanbul Airport (IST) remains Europe’s busiest airport in August 2026, handling 4.83 million seats and recording modest 1% growth compared with August 2025. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) retains second place with 4.51 million seats, with capacity broadly unchanged year-on-year. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) ranks third with 4.08 million seats, increasing capacity by 2% compared with last year, while Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) is in fourth place with 3.85 million seats, posting 1% growth. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) completes the top five with 3.83 million seats, maintaining capacity at similar levels to August 2025.
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 3.65 million seats in sixth place. Barcelona Airport (BCN) follows in seventh with 3.32 million seats, recording 6% growth compared with last year. Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) remains eighth with 3.17 million seats, posting a solid 4% increase year-on-year. Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) records the fastest growth among Europe’s top ten airports, increasing capacity by 11% to 2.91 million seats and retaining ninth place. Munich Airport (MUC) rounds out the top ten with 2.66 million seats, recording modest 1% growth compared with August 2025.
August 2026 airport capacity data
Full scheduled seat data for all airports featured in OAG’s August 2026 rankings. The biggest capacity changes this month: Shanghai Pudong climbed four places globally (7th to 3rd) with the strongest growth in the top 10 at +11%; Guangzhou Baiyun also climbed four places (10th to 6th) posting 9% growth; Dubai International retains the international top spot but remains −15% year-on-year; Seoul Incheon climbed to third internationally from fourth; Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen posted the fastest European growth at +11%; Madrid Barajas retained the international top 10 from 11th with the strongest international growth rate at +6%.
Top 10 global airports — August 2026 (total seats)
| # | Code | Airport | Seats | YoY | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATL | Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Intl | 5,436,663 | — | 1 |
| 2 | ORD | Chicago O’Hare International | 5,068,108 | +9% | 5 |
| 3 | PVG | Shanghai Pudong International | 4,994,682 | +11% | 7 |
| 4 | IST | Istanbul Airport | 4,825,927 | +1% | 4 |
| 5 | HND | Tokyo Haneda | 4,800,900 | −1% | 3 |
| 6 | CAN | Guangzhou Baiyun International | 4,797,057 | +9% | 10 |
| 7 | DXB | Dubai International | 4,544,728 | −15% | 2 |
| 8 | LHR | London Heathrow | 4,508,796 | — | 6 |
| 9 | DEN | Denver International | 4,466,741 | +2% | 8 |
| 10 | DFW | Dallas/Fort Worth International | 4,407,697 | +1% | 9 |
Top 10 international airports — August 2026 (international seats only)
| # | Code | Airport | Int’l Seats | YoY | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DXB | Dubai International | 4,544,728 | −15% | 1 |
| 2 | LHR | London Heathrow | 4,257,699 | −1% | 2 |
| 3 | ICN | Seoul Incheon International | 3,951,988 | +3% | 4 |
| 4 | AMS | Amsterdam Schiphol | 3,850,911 | +1% | 3 |
| 5 | IST | Istanbul Airport | 3,797,205 | +1% | 5 |
| 6 | CDG | Paris Charles de Gaulle | 3,736,736 | +1% | 6 |
| 7 | SIN | Singapore Changi | 3,639,208 | +4% | 7 |
| 8 | HKG | Hong Kong International | 3,545,111 | +5% | 9 |
| 9 | FRA | Frankfurt International | 3,508,712 | — | 8 |
| 10 | MAD | Madrid Adolfo Suárez–Barajas | 2,777,023 | +6% | 11 |
Top 10 European airports — August 2026 (total seats, Western Europe)
| # | Code | Airport | Seats | YoY | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IST | Istanbul Airport | 4,825,927 | +1% | 1 |
| 2 | LHR | London Heathrow | 4,508,796 | — | 2 |
| 3 | CDG | Paris Charles de Gaulle | 4,082,524 | +2% | 3 |
| 4 | AMS | Amsterdam Schiphol | 3,851,411 | +1% | 5 |
| 5 | FRA | Frankfurt International | 3,827,259 | — | 4 |
| 6 | MAD | Madrid Adolfo Suárez–Barajas | 3,650,653 | +7% | 6 |
| 7 | BCN | Barcelona | 3,316,972 | +6% | 7 |
| 8 | FCO | Rome Fiumicino | 3,166,097 | +4% | 8 |
| 9 | SAW | Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen | 2,911,986 | +11% | 9 |
| 10 | MUC | Munich International | 2,655,923 | +1% | 10 |
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 August 2026, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) remains the World's Busiest Airport with 5.44 million seats, maintaining capacity at similar levels to August 2025. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) retains second place with 5.07 million seats, recording strong 9% year-on-year growth. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) remains third with 4.99 million seats and posts the strongest growth among the world’s ten busiest airports, increasing capacity by 11% compared with last year. Istanbul Airport (IST) is in fourth place with 4.83 million seats, recording modest 1% growth, while Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) ranks fifth with 4.80 million seats, with capacity declining slightly by 1% year-on-year.