Eight of the World's Busiest Airports are in the US
A recent report by Airports Council International (ACI) World revealed that eight of the world's 20 busiest airports in 2023 are located in the United States. This highlights the significant role US airports play in both domestic and international travel, handling tens of millions of passengers annually.
Each year, ACI releases the Annual World Airport Traffic Dataset, which includes data from over 2,700 airports in more than 185 countries. The 2024 report, covering 2023 statistics, showed a total global traffic of nearly 8.7 billion passengers, a 30.5% increase from 2022, and a recovery to 94.2% of pre-pandemic levels.
The top 20 busiest airports served 1.41 billion passengers in 2023, representing 16% of global passenger movements. Among these, eight US airports stand out:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): Ranked 1st with 104,653,451 passengers.
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): Ranked 3rd with 81,755,538 passengers.
- Denver International Airport (DEN): Ranked 6th with 77,837,917 passengers.
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Ranked 8th with 75,050,875 passengers.
- O'Hare International Airport (ORD): Ranked 9th with 73,984,726 passengers.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): Ranked 13th with 62,464,331 passengers.
- Orlando International Airport (MCO): Ranked 18th with 57,736,205 passengers.
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS): Ranked 19th with 57,666,456 passengers.
These eight airports collectively handled 590,347,469 passengers in 2023. Notably, ATL remains the busiest airport globally, serving significantly more passengers than Dubai International Airport (DXB), which is second.
Four of the US airports – DFW, DEN, MCO, and LAS – have seen an increase in passenger traffic compared to pre-pandemic levels. DEN experienced the most significant rise with a 12.8% increase, showcasing its strategic importance and innovative design.
These airports are crucial hubs for both domestic and international flights. Their efficient operations and extensive networks make them indispensable in the global aviation industry, with seven also ranking among the world's busiest cargo hubs.