Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport has secured its spot as one of the busiest airports in the Middle East and Africa for 2024, ranking seventh on the list. This impressive achievement, according to aviation analytics firm OAG, is based on airline capacity, both domestic and international. OR Tambo saw 12.2 million seats in operation, marking a 4% increase from 2023—though it still lags 18% behind the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
Dubai International Airport takes the top position in the region, boasting a staggering 60.2 million seats in 2024, and securing the second spot globally. Right behind Dubai, Hamad International in Doha handled 32.4 million seats, while Jeddah followed closely with 29.7 million. Other airports rounding out the region’s top 10 include Riyadh’s King Khalid (23.2 million seats), Cairo International (18.7 million), and Zayed International (17.1 million). Addis Ababa (12 million), Kuwait (10.9 million), and Sharjah (9.1 million) also made notable appearances in the rankings.
On a global scale, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport claimed the title of the busiest airport in the world for the second consecutive year, handling a massive 62.7 million seats in 2024. The rest of the top 10 busiest airports worldwide include heavyweights like Tokyo International (Haneda), London Heathrow, Dallas Fort Worth, and Denver International, among others. The global trend showcases an impressive recovery in air travel, with many airports returning to full capacity and even surpassing pre-pandemic figures.
Here’s a snapshot of the busiest global airports of 2024:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International – 62.7 million seats
- Dubai International – 60.2 million seats
- Tokyo International (Haneda) – 55.2 million seats
- London Heathrow – 51.55 million seats
- Dallas Fort Worth International – 51.51 million seats
- Denver International – 49.2 million seats
- Guangzhou Baiyun – 48.8 million seats
- Istanbul – 48.51 million seats
- Shanghai Pudong International – 48.5 million seats
- Chicago O’Hare International – 46.9 million seats
As the global air travel market continues its recovery, these airports are at the forefront, accommodating millions of passengers and connecting the world more than ever before.
