Dubai International Airport remained the world’s busiest airport for international airline seat capacity in August after carriers scheduled 4.54 million one-way international seats, equivalent to about 9 million seats across both inbound and outbound flights.
Latest figures from aviation analytics firm OAG showed the airport posted a 4.4 percent increase in international seat capacity from July, with airlines adding roughly 190,000 more seats as travel demand surged during the peak summer season.
The latest increase further strengthened Dubai’s position as the world’s leading international aviation hub, staying ahead of other major airports in global rankings.
London Heathrow placed second with 4.26 million scheduled international seats, while Seoul Incheon followed with 3.95 million. Amsterdam Schiphol ranked fourth with 3.85 million seats, and Istanbul Airport completed the top five with 3.80 million.
The additional capacity reflects continued growth in airline operations through Dubai, as carriers expanded flight schedules to accommodate heightened seasonal demand from international travelers.
Beyond seat capacity, Dubai International also continued to dominate global passenger traffic. Airports Council International named it the world’s busiest airport for international passengers in 2025 for the 12th consecutive year after it handled a record 95.2 million travelers, a 3.1 percent increase from 2024. During the first quarter of 2026 alone, the airport served another 18.6 million passengers.
