Kıvanç Zaimler
January 5, 2026
These are the world’s busiest airports.
This video is part of: Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics and Centre for Urban Transformation
Global airports served 8.5 billion trips in 2023. Together with ACI World, the World Economic Forum has launched the Airports of Tomorrow initiative to address energy, infrastructure and financing needs in the journey to net zero.
The world's busiest airports in 2023 were dominated by the United States, with five airports cracking the top 10.
Top 5 Busiest Airports in 2023
- Atlanta, USA
- Dubai, UAE
- Dallas/Fort Worth, USA
- London Heathrow, UK
- Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan
Overall, global airports saw a significant rebound in 2023, handling a total of 8.5 billion trips.
Decarbonization: Aviation's Next Frontier
Decarbonization is a major hurdle for the booming aviation industry aiming for net zero by 2050. This requires investment in sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and technologies like hydrogen.
Interestingly, smaller airports are leading the way in testing these solutions due to their easier implementation, paving the path for larger airports like those in Lyon and Christchurch pioneering hydrogen technology.
Airports of Tomorrow Initiative
To tackle the energy, infrastructure, and financing challenges associated with reaching net zero emissions, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with ACI World, launched the "Airports of Tomorrow" initiative.
Notably, the world's second and third busiest airports – Dubai and Dallas/Fort Worth – are actively participating in this initiative.
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