Atlanta named world's busiest airport (again). But Chicago gets nod

It's official — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest in the world for another year.

Airports Council International's annual report was released Tuesday analyzing total passengers, international passengers, air cargo and aircraft movements to identify the busiest airports in the world.

Atlanta took the top spot for total passengers, followed by Dubai International Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport.

"We congratulate the world’s busiest airports for managing growing air travel demand amid increasing operational complexity. These hubs keep people and goods moving, supporting global trade, tourism, and economic growth in their communities and regions," ACI World Director General Justin Erbacci said in an April 14 release. "To help keep pace with rising demand, governments must prioritize sustained investment in airports and the broader aviation ecosystem.”

How many passengers went through Hartsfield-Jackson in 2025?

A total of 106.3 million passengers traveled through the Atlanta airport in 2025, a slight decrease from 2024, but enough to keep the Peach State in the top spot.

Dallas-Fort Worth ranked fourth in the world as the second U.S. airport, with 85.6 million passengers in 2025.

Chicago O'Hare ranked sixth with 84.8 million total passengers, an increase of 6% from 2024, according to the report.

Overall, total passenger traffic increased 3.6% from 2024, but only 9% of the total passenger traffic came from the top 10 airports. This means the vast majority of passenger travel is spread out across smaller airports around the world.

Hartsfield-Jackson drops out of the top ten busiest airports for international passengers. Dubai ranks first for international passengers, followed by London Heathrow, Incheon Korea and Singapore's airport.

Chicago O'Hare has busiest airfield

When it comes to "aircraft movements," or how many planes and other aircraft are actually taking off and landing from an airport, Hartsfield-Jackson is ranked second in the world with 807,000 takeoffs and landings.

The top spot goes to Chicago O'Hare, with 860,000 takeoffs and landings, reigniting the debate about what "world's busiest" really means. The volume of flights equates to roughly one takeoff or landing every 37 seconds.

O'Hare had a 10% increase in aircraft movements from 2024 to 2025, but still lower than 2019 numbers when the airport last held the title.

“Being home to the busiest airport in the world is a point of pride for every Chicagoan,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said in an April 14 press release. “It reflects our city’s enduring strength as a global economic engine, even in complex and evolving times. Chicago sets the pace, and the world takes notice."

American airports dominate aircraft movements, making up seven of the top ten, with Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Charlotte making the cut.

The report includes preliminary results, and final results will be released in July, the organization said.

Irene Wright is following the partial government shutdown and Iran conflict's impact on Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Find the Atlanta Connect reporter on X @IreneEWright or email her at [email protected].