As we stroll into the busiest season of the year, we’re breaking down the Top 5 Busiest Passenger Airports in the world. Let’s dive right in!

The 2017 statistics come from the Airports Council International (ACI) full-year figures. They make their calculations based on passengers enplaned and deplaned, along with direct-transit passengers. The 2018 half-year breakdown you will see below is based on the Civil Aviation Data Analysis organization based out of Shanghai, China.

Our Top 5 order is based on the full-year 2017 numbers.

#5 – Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

2017 Passenger Count: 84,557,968

Although LAX dropped from the 4 count in 2016 to 5th place in 2017, the airport still had positive growth at 4.5% year-on-year. LAX has long been seen as the ‘Gateway to the Pacific Rim’ and has strong connections and routes to Latin America and different parts of Asia. Due to its proximity to Hollywood, it also attracts a large number of A-List celebrities, if that’s your thing. Looking at the mid-year numbers, LAX has slightly edged out HND for the number 4 slot in 2018.

LAX 2018 Mid-Year Ranking: #4 with 42.68 million

#4 – Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)

2017 Passenger Count: 85,408,975

Rounding out 2016 in the 5th slot, HND jumped a whopping count of approximately 6 million passengers and into the #4 slot in 2017. It is the main airport for two of the major domestic airlines and in 2010 started operating international flights once again after a 32 year hiatus. Taking a look at the Tokyo airport system which is comprised of HND and Narita Airport, Tokyo has the third busiest airport system in the world.

HND 2018 Mid-Year Ranking: #5 with 41.06 million

#3 – Dubai International Airport (DXB)

2017 Passenger Count: 88,242,099

As was highlighted in our posts from November on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, DXB is the powerhouse of this world zone. Due to its role as a major connector for long-haul international flights, DXB has the highest count of international passengers. It is now gearing up for Expo 2020 Dubai which is estimated to have an attendance of 25 million from the opening in October 2020 to the closing in April 2021. This prediction is in line with the latest Expo in Milan at 21 million, yet 2020 is expected to have a larger international crowd. In case you are interested, Expo 2023 will be in Buenos Aires.

DXB 2018 Mid-Year Ranking: #3 with 43.74 million

#2 – Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

2017 Passenger Count: 95,786,442

China is large and has an extensive network of airports. There are cities in China that most people have never heard of which harbor populations larger than many countries around the world. PEK rose to the top of China and Asia as a whole cerca 2009 and it’s showing no sign of slowing down.

2018 Mid-Year Ranking: #2 with 49.38 million

#1 – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

2017 Passenger Count: 103,902,992

At 100 million passengers and some change, when it comes to being number 1, there is simply no comparison. Holding the top spot since 1997 and crushing the competition by a rough average of 10 million passengers per year since the early 2000s, this airport truly does move people! They are the unequivocal champions, no time for losers.

2018 Mid-Year Ranking: #1 with 52.64 million