ATLANTA- The world’s busiest airports are entering a new phase of infrastructure development, with multiple hubs targeting over 100 million annual passengers. Key airports like Atlanta (ATL), Dubai (DXB), and Tokyo Haneda (HND) are leading this transformation.
From Emirates (EK) at Dubai to Japan Airlines (JL) at Tokyo Haneda, airlines and governments are investing heavily in airport capacity, ensuring they can meet future travel demand and global connectivity needs.
Photo: Dubai International AirportMega Airport Expansion
The aviation industry is experiencing a historic infrastructure boom, with several airports worldwide scaling up operations to join the elite 100 Million Passengers Club. This growth is driven by strong post-pandemic recovery, booming international tourism, and national strategies that position airports as economic and transit powerhouses.
In 2024, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) remained the only airport to exceed 100 million actual passengers, handling 108 million.
Dubai International (DXB) followed closely, with 92.3 million passengers, a 6.1% year-over-year growth, nearly double ATL’s 3.3%. If this trend continues, DXB is likely to catch up by the decade’s end.
Here are the Top 10 airports by total passenger seat capacity (two-way, domestic + international) in 2024:
| 1 | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta Intl | ATL | Atlanta | United States | 108M | 125.5M |
| 2 | Dubai International | DXB | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 92.3M | 120.3M |
| 3 | Tokyo Haneda | HND | Tokyo | Japan | 84.0M | 110.3M |
| 4 | London Heathrow | LHR | London | United Kingdom | 83.0M | 103.2M |
| 5 | Dallas/Fort Worth Intl | DFW | Dallas/Fort Worth | United States | 87.0M | 102.9M |
| 6 | Denver International | DEN | Denver | United States | 82.3M | 98.4M |
| 7 | Istanbul Airport | IST | Istanbul | Türkiye | 80.0M | 96.6M |
| 8 | Shanghai Pudong | PVG | Shanghai | China | 76.8M | 95.1M |
| 9 | Guangzhou Baiyun Intl | CAN | Guangzhou | China | 76.3M | 94.9M |
| 10 | Chicago O’Hare | ORD | Chicago | United States | 80.0M | 94.0M |
Atlanta Airport; Photo: HOK Website1. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta Intl (ATL)
- Total Seat Capacity: 125.5 million
- Passenger Volume: 108 million
- Country: United States
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) remains the world’s busiest airport by passenger volume.
Serving as a primary hub for Delta Air Lines (DL), ATL benefits from its strategic location as a major domestic and international transfer point.
In 2024, it handled 108 million passengers, backed by its vast capacity and highly efficient operations.
Photo: Dubai International Airport, Terminal 22. Dubai International (DXB)
- Total Seat Capacity: 120.3 million
- Passenger Volume: 92.3 million
- Country: United Arab Emirates
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the world’s busiest international airport and the second overall in passenger volume.
As the home base for Emirates (EK), DXB offers extensive connectivity between East and West. Its 92.3 million passengers in 2024 reflect continued post-pandemic growth and strong global transit demand.
Tokyo Haneda Airport; Photo- Wikipedia3. Tokyo Haneda (HND)
- Total Seat Capacity: 110.3 million
- Passenger Volume: 84.0 million
- Country: Japan
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) is Japan’s primary domestic and international airport. Located near central Tokyo, it offers high efficiency and excellent connectivity.
In 2024, HND handled 84 million passengers, supported by strong demand and infrastructure upgrades following Japan’s tourism recovery and international reopening.
Photo: Skytrax4. London Heathrow (LHR)
- Total Seat Capacity: 103.2 million
- Passenger Volume: 83.0 million
- Country: United Kingdom
London Heathrow (LHR) continues to be the busiest airport in Europe by international traffic. As a key hub for British Airways, it handled 83 million passengers in 2024.
Despite constrained runway capacity, Heathrow efficiently manages high volumes and remains vital for transatlantic and long-haul routes.
Photo: Dallas International Airport (DFW)5. Dallas/Fort Worth Intl (DFW)
- Total Seat Capacity: 102.9 million
- Passenger Volume: 87.0 million
- Country: United States
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is one of the fastest-growing mega hubs in North America.
With 87 million passengers in 2024, it serves as a major base for American Airlines and offers strong domestic and international links. Recent terminal enhancements have supported this continued passenger growth.
Photo: Denver International Airport6. Denver International (DEN)
- Total Seat Capacity: 98.4 million
- Passenger Volume: 82.3 million
- Country: United States
Denver International Airport (DEN) has rapidly scaled its operations, ranking sixth globally in passenger traffic.
With 82.3 million passengers in 2024, DEN benefits from its central U.S. location and serves as a key hub for United and Southwest Airlines. Expansion plans aim to boost long-term capacity.
Photo- iGA Istanbul Airport7. Istanbul Airport (IST)
- Total Seat Capacity: 96.6 million
- Passenger Volume: 80.0 million
- Country: Türkiye
Istanbul Airport (IST) is Türkiye’s primary international gateway and one of the most modern airports globally. It handled 80 million passengers in 2024 and serves as a critical hub for Turkish Airlines (TK).
Opened in 2018, IST was designed for scalability, with future capacity aimed at 200 million passengers.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport; Photo- VisitShanghai; Compiled by Aviation A2Z8. Shanghai Pudong (PVG)
- Total Seat Capacity: 95.1 million
- Passenger Volume: 76.8 million
- Country: China
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) remains one of China’s leading global hubs. With 76.8 million passengers in 2024, PVG supports major carriers including China Eastern and offers extensive international routes.
Its dual terminal, dual runway system continues to drive high seat and passenger throughput.
Photo: By AirportStudio – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=700870509. Guangzhou Baiyun Intl (CAN)
- Total Seat Capacity: 94.9 million
- Passenger Volume: 76.3 million
- Country: China
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is a central hub for southern China. In 2024, it handled 76.3 million passengers, reflecting recovery and expansion in China’s aviation market.
With modern terminals and new infrastructure, CAN is positioned to serve as a major Asia-Pacific gateway.
Photo: SOM10. Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
- Total Seat Capacity: 94.0 million
- Passenger Volume: 80.0 million
- Country: United States
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is one of America’s most connected hubs. Handling 80 million passengers in 2024, ORD supports major airlines like United (UA) and American (AA).
Ongoing terminal modernization and runway enhancements aim to improve efficiency and future growth potential.
Photo- King Salman International Airport (X)Middle East Leading the Charge
Dubai World Central (DWC)
Dubai World Central (DWC) is set to become the region’s primary hub over the next decade. While Dubai International (DXB) remains operational, investments in DWC will eventually shift major traffic here.
Once fully developed, DWC will support up to 260 million passengers annually with five parallel runways, rolled out in modular phases to align with demand.
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport (IST) opened in 2018 and has since grown to accommodate 80 million passengers in 2024, a 5.2% increase from 2023.
Its full development plan targets 200 million passengers by 2028, positioning it as a formidable global hub with the largest route network in the region.
Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 includes a bold aviation strategy. The upcoming King Salman International Airport in Riyadh will replace the current King Khalid International (RUH) and is expected to handle 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. In 2024, RUH processed 38 million passengers.
Reported by OAG, these projects reflect a coordinated regional strategy to triple airport capacity by 2050. The Middle East’s biggest hubs are expected to support over 750 million annual passengers, more than doubling current volumes.
Photo By:- Lip Jin Lee’sAirport Development Projects
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Construction of Changi Airport’s (SIN) Terminal 5 began in May 2025, with a $10 billion investment to boost capacity by 50 million passengers, bringing the total to 140 million by the mid-2030s.
Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and Heatherwick Studio, the terminal will feature three additional runways and over 100 departure gates.
A third runway extension is also planned by 2027 to enhance operational efficiency. Changi (SIN), which handled 67.7 million passengers in 2024, aims to connect to 200 cities, up from 170, solidifying its role as a global aviation hub.
Photo: Hong Kong International AirportHong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is finalizing an $18 billion expansion, including a third runway operational since July 2022 and a new 283,000-square-meter boarding concourse set to open in June 2025.
The upgraded Terminal 2 will transition to a full-service processing terminal, increasing capacity from 74 million to 104 million passengers annually by 2027, with a long-term goal of 120 million.
The project includes a 2,600-meter automated people mover system to enhance connectivity.
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport | Photo: VietJet AirSuvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is expanding with a new South Terminal and a fourth runway, set to increase capacity from 65 million to 150 million passengers by 2033.
This $10 billion project aims to position BKK as a regional transfer hub, competing with Singapore Changi (SIN) and Kuala Lumpur International (KUL).
The expansion addresses Thailand’s growing tourism and economic demands, driven by carriers like Thai Airways (TG) and Bangkok Airways (PG).
Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) completed its Phase 4 expansion in December 2024, adding a fourth runway and new terminal capacity to handle 106 million passengers annually, up from 77 million.
Plans for a third passenger terminal and a fifth runway are under review to support low-cost carriers like T’way Air (TW) and Jeju Air (7C).
ICN’s strategic location makes it a key hub for airlines such as Korean Air (KE) and Asiana Airlines (OZ).
Long Thanh International Airport (LTI)
Vietnam’s Long Thanh International Airport (LTI), under construction near Ho Chi Minh City, is a $20 billion project designed to handle 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo by 2050.
Phase 1, set for completion by 2026, will include one runway and a terminal with a 25 million passenger capacity, relieving pressure on Tan Son Nhat (SGN).
Subsequent phases by 2035 and 2050 will add runways and terminals, positioning LTI as a global megahub for carriers like Vietnam Airlines (VN).
New Manila International Airport (Bulacan)
The New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, Philippines, is a $14 billion project led by San Miguel Corporation.
Set to open in phases from 2026, it will initially handle 35 million passengers, with a target of 100 million upon completion by 2030.
The 2,500-hectare airport will feature four runways, easing congestion at Ninoy Aquino (MNL) and Clark International (CRK). Philippine Airlines (PR) and Cebu Pacific (5J) are expected to leverage this new hub.
Other Notable Projects
- Beijing Daxing International (PKX): Expansion plans aim to alleviate pressure on Beijing Capital (PEK), with a focus on increasing capacity for China Southern Airlines (CZ) and China Eastern Airlines (MU).
- Noida International Airport (Jewar, India): Set to open in September 2025, this $4 billion project will initially handle 12 million passengers, expanding to 70 million by 2040, supporting carriers like IndiGo (6E) and Air India (AI).
- Kuala Lumpur International (KUL): A $350 million expansion will boost capacity to over 100 million passengers, positioning KUL as a hub for Malaysia Airlines (MH) and AirAsia (AK).
Photo: David McKelvey | FlickrBottom Line
Asia’s airports are poised to dominate the 100 Million Passenger Club by the 2030s, driven by rapid urbanization and a growing middle class.
With $240 billion in investments planned through 2035, hubs like Changi (SIN), Incheon (ICN), and Long Thanh (LTI) will redefine global aviation, challenging the dominance of airports like Atlanta (ATL) and Dubai (DXB).
The region’s focus on smarter, larger, and more connected airports ensures it will meet the projected 7.9% near-term passenger growth, cementing Asia-Pacific as the epicenter of aviation innovation.
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