OAG: Atlanta Retains Title As World’s Busiest Airport 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) has retained its position as the world’s busiest airport in 2025, offering 63.1 million seats, according to OAG’s annual ranking based on scheduled airline capacity.

Capacity at ATL increased by one per cent year-on-year, bringing volumes broadly back in line with pre-pandemic levels.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) followed closely in second place with 62.4 million seats, continuing its rapid long-term growth. Capacity at DXB rose four per cent from 2024 and now stands 16 per cent above 2019 levels, underscoring its dominance as the world’s leading international hub.

OAG Chief Analyst, John Grant said the 2025 rankings show that global aviation has moved into a new phase of growth.

“Dubai’s continued expansion and Istanbul’s rise as a global hub demonstrate how airline networks are evolving, while the resilience of large domestic markets continues to underpin global capacity,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) ranked third with 55.4 million seats, maintaining stable capacity levels and remaining slightly above pre-pandemic volumes.

Among the global Top 10, Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Istanbul Airport (IST) recorded the strongest year-on-year growth, increasing capacity by eight per cent and six per cent, respectively. Istanbul continues to stand out as one of the fastest-growing major hubs globally, with capacity now 22 per cent higher than in 2019.

Overall, the 2025 rankings reflect the resilience of large domestic markets in the United States and China, alongside sustained expansion in the Middle East and the continued emergence of new global hub airports since 2019.

-- BERNAMA