The busiest airports in the world defy global uncertainty and hold top rankings: ACI
Airports Council Worldwide (ACI) World presents an unique first take a look at the 2024 rankings of the world’s busiest airports, showcasing their resilience in navigating world uncertainty. Regardless of geopolitical and financial challenges, these airports have efficiently held their prime rankings, positioning themselves for continued progress.
ACI World Director Normal Justin Erbacci stated, “Amid world challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines. These hubs are important arteries of commerce, commerce, and connectivity. As air journey grows, ACI World stands able to assist its members, making certain the sleek movement of individuals and items that drive world financial, social, and cultural progress.”
Passenger site visitors highlights
• Preliminary figures point out that the 2024 world whole passengers are near 9.5 billion, representing a rise of 9% from 2023 or a acquire of three.8% from pre-pandemic ranges (2019).
• The High 10 busiest airports, representing 9% of worldwide site visitors (855 million passengers), witnessed a acquire of 8.8% from 2023 and a acquire of 8.4% vis-à-vis their 2019 outcomes (789 million pax in 2019).
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport defends its prime place, adopted by Dubai Worldwide Airport and Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport.
• The largest leap within the High 10 rankings was recorded for Shanghai Pudong Worldwide Airport, going from twenty first place in 2023 to the tenth spot in 2024. The leap was fueled by expanded visa insurance policies, the resumption and enlargement of worldwide flights, operational enhancements, and the restoration of the Asia-Pacific area, notably China.
• The unwavering energy of Istanbul Airport and New Delhi Worldwide Airport preserve them in prime ranks, marking vital progress over 2019. Each airports have been thriving because of airline enlargement, infrastructure progress, and enhanced world connectivity.
Navigating world uncertainty
2024 noticed world passenger progress face vital uncertainties that stemmed from evolving financial and geopolitical landscapes. Ongoing provide chain challenges and manufacturing delays from plane producers, in addition to geopolitical tensions, posed a threat to progress alternatives by probably altering flight routes, rising operational prices, and affecting passenger sentiment. Moreover, the specter of tariffs raised issues about potential disruptions to world commerce, which not directly affected worldwide journey demand and elevated constructions.
In 2025, world passenger site visitors is forecast to achieve 9.9 billion with a 4.8% year-over-year progress fee. Whereas passenger demand stays robust, the tempo of enlargement is predicted to sluggish as markets shift from recovery-driven surges to structural, long-term progress patterns.
Key challenges resembling financial uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and capability constraints are anticipated to more and more form the business’s trajectory. In superior markets, demand stabilization, provide chain bottlenecks in plane manufacturing and airport capability scarcity might mood progress, whereas in rising markets, greater infrastructure funding and rising middle-class journey demand will possible proceed to drive enlargement. Because the business strikes into a brand new period of progress, the airport business should give attention to monetary viability, funding in infrastructure, operational effectivity, and sustainability.
Cargo site visitors highlights
• Air cargo volumes are estimated to have elevated by 8.4% year-over-year (+3.9% versus 2019), to over 124 million metric tonnes in 2024.
• Air cargo volumes within the prime 10 airports–representing near 26% (32.3 million metric tonnes) of the worldwide volumes in 2024—gained 9.3% in 2024 year-over-year or a acquire of 9.5% vis-à-vis their 2019 outcomes (29.5 million tonnes in 2019). Air cargo site visitors is extra concentrated amongst the principle airports.
• The rise in cargo is attributed primarily to robust e-commerce demand, maritime delivery disruptions, and declines in jet gasoline costs.
• Hong Kong Worldwide Airport remained the highest rank, adopted by Shanghai Pudong Worldwide Airport and Memphis Worldwide Airport.
Plane actions
• 2024 world plane actions are estimated to be round 100 million, representing a acquire of 4.3% from 2023 or -2.6% vs 2019 (i.e., a restoration of 97.4%).
• The High 10 airports representing over 6% of worldwide site visitors (6.4 million actions), witnessed a acquire of 6.5% from their 2023 outcomes or a slight acquire of 0.4% vis-à-vis their 2019 outcomes (6.3 million).
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport is on the prime, adopted by Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport and Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport.