Dubai International Airport (DXB) has once again claimed the title of the world’s busiest international airport for 2024, offering 60.2 million seats, according to aviation analytics firm OAG. This reflects a 7% increase in airline capacity compared to 2023 and a 12% rise from pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Globally, DXB also ranked as the second busiest airport overall when combining both domestic and international flight capacity. The rankings are based on scheduled one-way airline capacity for the year.
During the first half of 2024, DXB handled 44.9 million passengers, with strong demand from key markets like India and a rebound in Chinese travelers, according to Dubai Airports. Full-year passenger figures are expected to be announced by early 2025.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) took second place for international capacity, offering 48.4 million seats, while Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) rose to third with 41.6 million seats, representing a significant 24% growth from the previous year.
Dubai International remains connected to 269 destinations in 106 countries, served by 101 airlines. Top destination countries included India, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Pakistan.
To address increasing demand, Dubai approved a $35 billion project in April to construct a new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport, which aims to accommodate up to 260 million passengers annually, solidifying Dubai’s status as a global aviation hub.
