Dubai's DXB retains crown as world’s busiest international airport

Dubai International (DXB) has retained its position as the world’s busiest airport for international travel, beating prominent hubs such as London and Amsterdam, according to Airports Council International (ACI), an association of world airports. 

DXB has maintained its dominance for the 10th consecutive year, having welcomed 86.9 million international passengers in 2023, eclipsing pre-pandemic traffic of 86.4 million in 2019, and increasing 31.7% on 2022. 

London's Heathrow Airport came in second, with the UK's biggest airport receiving 74.9 million passengers during the same period, up 28.6% from 2022. 

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol ranked third, with 61.88 million international visitors, a 17.9% year-on-year increase. 

DXB also become the world’s second busiest airport overall for 2023, ranking after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport which welcomed 104.65 million travellers. 

With 81.75 passengers, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport came in third. 

Luis Felipe de Oliveira, ACI world director general said that global air travel in 2023 was chiefly fuelled by the international segment, propelled by several factors, such as benefits from China’s reopening and a growing inclination towards travel despite macroeconomic conditions. 

Nearly 8.5 billion global passengers travelled in 2023, increasing 27.2% year-on-year and recovering 93.8% from pre-pandemic levels. 

The influx of passengers at international airports has been central in bolstering the recovery of hubs reliant on this segment, the ACI said. 

The top 10 airports collectively account for close to 10% of global air traffic, serving 806 million passengers.  

Airport rankings are based on data gathered from over 2,600 airports across more than 180 countries and territories globally.