What is the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic?

The busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Located south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, ATL is a major hub for domestic travel across the United States and a significant gateway to international destinations.

Atlanta’s location makes it especially efficient for connecting flights: the airport sits within a short flight of much of the U.S. population. Delta Air Lines operates its largest hub there, helping drive the airport’s enormous passenger totals. Hartsfield-Jackson has ranked first by total passenger traffic almost continuously since 1998, apart from the pandemic-disrupted year 2020. In 2024, it handled about 108.1 million passengers.

A common mix-up is confusing total passenger traffic with international passenger traffic, aircraft movements, or cargo volume. Airports such as Dubai International are stronger contenders when the measurement is international passengers alone. Atlanta’s answer refers to total passengers, including both domestic and international travelers. The airport was named for former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.