The surprising, full-day closure of London’s Heathrow Airport on March 21, attributable to a fireplace in a close-by electrical substation, left roughly 200,000 vacationers stranded and scrambling to regulate their plans. As one of many world’s busiest and most internationally related airports, Heathrow warned of continued “vital disruption” and suggested passengers to keep away from the airport till it reopens.
In gentle of latest occasions, uncover the highest 10 busiest airports worldwide, ranked by passenger visitors, primarily based on information from the Airports Council Worldwide in 2023.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, has persistently ranked because the busiest airport by way of passenger visitors. In recent times, as much as 104 million passengers handed by way of the airport.
As of March 2025, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson has moved up a spot to turn out to be the busiest international airport, with 5.4 million out there seats—reflecting a 3% improve in capability in comparison with March 2024, in line with the worldwide journey information platform OAG, which calculates this primarily based on complete airline capability (home and worldwide flights).
Dubai Worldwide
Atlanta is adopted carefully by Dubai Worldwide with virtually 87 million passengers.
Dallas Fort Price Worldwide
Dallas Forth Price Worldwide in Texas noticed virtually 82 million passengers.
London Heathrow
London Heathrow’s rating fluctuates, however it has seen about 79 million passengers in recent times.
Following the fireplace incident on March 21, a spokesperson said, “Because the busiest airport in Europe, Heathrow makes use of as a lot power as a small metropolis, subsequently getting again to a full and protected operation takes time,” in line with CBS.
A spokesperson after the fireplace incident on March 21 famous that “because the busiest airport in Europe, Heathrow makes use of as a lot power as a small metropolis, subsequently getting again to a full and protected operation takes time,” in line with CBS.
Whereas Heathrow might not be the busiest airport by way of out there seats on scheduled flights, it holds the title of the best-connected airport on the earth, in line with OAG. That is measured by the entire variety of locations served and scheduled connections. Heathrow can be accurately acknowledged as Europe’s busiest airport by way of seat availability.
Round 12 hours after the shutdown, Heathrow launched an announcement confirming it was reopening. Nonetheless, vacationers have been suggested to solely go to the airport if their airline instructed them to, per CBS Information.
“We are going to now work with the airways on repatriating the passengers who have been diverted to different airports in Europe,” the up to date assertion indicated. “We hope to run a full operation tomorrow and can present additional data shortly.”
Tokyo-Haneda Worldwide
Toyko was just below 79 million at round 78.7.
Denver Worldwide Airport
Denver Worldwide Airport noticed round 77.8 million passengers.
Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport recorded 76 million.
Los Angeles Worldwide
Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) had 75 million passengers.
Chicago O’Hare Worldwide
Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport noticed 73.9 million.
Delhi Airport
Delhi Airport rounded out the listing with 72.2 million passengers.
Collectively, these 10 airports signify 10% of world air visitors.

