The 8 busiest airports in the world
Charles de Gaulle Airport
Owner and Operator: Aeroports de Paris
Named for the former French general and president, Charles de Gaulle Airport was completed in 1974 and is now the second-busiest airport in Europe. Terminal 1 is known for its unique rotunda design, encircled by seven satellite buildings. The airport serves as the principal hub for Air France and is a major European hub for Delta Air Lines.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Owner/Operator: City of Chicago/Chicago Department of Aviation
Since opening in 1955, Chicago O’Hare has consistently been one of the busiest passenger hubs in the world. In terms of takeoffs and landings, it’s the busiest airport in the world; over 888,000 aircraft movements took place during the 12-month period ending April 21. It serves close to 40 different airlines and provides direct flights to more than 60 international destinations.
Dubai International Airport
Owner/Operator: Government of Dubai/Dubai Airports Company
As the premier airport in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai International is the world’s busiest airport in terms of international passengers; in 2014 it served nearly 70 million travelers from abroad. Dubai Duty Free, which operates out of DXB, is the most successful airport retailer, generating $1.8 billion in 2013 alone. And when Terminal 3 was completed in 2008, it was the world’s largest building, an honor it held until 2013.
Los Angeles International Airport
Owner/Operator: City of Los Angeles/Los Angeles World Airports
LAX is not just the fifth-busiest airport in the world. It’s also the busiest origin and destination airport, meaning that relative to other airports, many more travelers begin or end their trips in Los Angeles than use it as a connection. With a 6% year-over-year increase in passengers between 2013 and 2014, LAX has one of the strongest traffic growth rates in the world.
Haneda International Airport
Operators: Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, Japan Airport Terminal Co., Tokyo International Air Terminal Corp.
Also known as Tokyo International, Haneda Airport is the second busiest in Asia, able to handle 90 million passengers a year. It might soon reach that level, as it saw a remarkable 5.7% year-over-year growth in passenger traffic between 2013 and 2014. Having won the bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics, the Japanese government plans to increase airport capacity even further.
London Heathrow Airport
Owner/Operator: Heathrow Airport Holdings/Heathrow Airport Limited
For years, London Heathrow was the world’s busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic. Serving 185 destinations in 84 countries, the British airport has a high rate of foreign travelers — 93% in 2014. Formerly called London Airport, it received the name “Heathrow” in 1966, after the medieval hamlet that was demolished in 1944 to make room for the airport.
Beijing Capital International Airport
Operator: Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited
Beijing Capital is easily Asia’s busiest airport, serving 13 million more people than Tokyo International in 2014. To prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing Capital added the mammoth Terminal 3, currently the sixth-largest building in the world. The airport serves as the main hub for Air China, which flies out of Beijing to more than 120 destinations.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Owner/Operator: City of Atlanta/Atlanta Department of Aviation
Opened in September 1980, Hartsfield-Jackson has remained the world’s busiest passenger airport since 1998. In terms of takeoffs and landings, it’s the second busiest. Contributing to the airport’s prominence is Atlanta’s convenient location, a mere two-hour flight from 80% of the US population.
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