2023 Global Airport Traffic Report: Dubai International Leads after the Rise in Air Travel
The Airports Council International’s preliminary report for 2023 shows a surge in international air travel, with Dubai International remaining the busiest airport globally.
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For the tenth year in a row, Dubai International Airport has been named the world’s busiest airport for international travel, recording about 87 million passengers last year.
This continued success is highlighted by the Airports Council International (ACI), which released its preliminary list of the top 10 busiest airports globally for 2023. The report noted a significant increase in international air travel, with Dubai Airports (DXB) maintaining its leading position.
Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, expressed his pleasure in the recognition of Dubai International Airport as the busiest airport for international travel for the tenth consecutive year. He highlighted that this anticipated milestone instilled great pride within the organization and emphasized that DXB is proud to maintain its leading status globally for a remarkable decade.
Griffiths reflected on the numerous achievements and records the airport has surpassed over the past ten years, including welcoming its billionth passenger, expanding its facilities, and enhancing global connectivity through partnerships with various airlines. He underscored the commitment to continuously improving every aspect of the airport experience for guests.
He attributed the success of DXB to the unwavering commitment to operational excellence, which he said has established new benchmarks and solidified DXB’s status as a key player in global aviation. This success, he noted, demonstrates the collaborative spirit of Dubai.
Griffiths also acknowledged the collective efforts of all service partners within the airport community and the broader aviation, travel, and tourism sectors. He confirmed that looking ahead, the focus would remain on maintaining DXB’s dominant position, with a determination to continue shaping the future of global aviation through innovation and collaboration, ensuring that DXB remains synonymous with excellence in every aspect of the passenger journey.
ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira provided insights into global air travel trends for 2023, driven by factors like China‘s reopening and persistent travel demand despite economic pressures. He noted that while US airports continue to dominate overall passenger numbers, significant movements were seen in international traffic rankings, with Dubai International rising to second place and Tokyo Haneda making a notable jump.
The rankings were based on data collected from over 2,600 airports in more than 180 countries, underscoring ACI World’s role as a key authority on global airport demand and the accuracy of its findings. The report also highlights the strategic importance of these airports in maintaining global connectivity, supporting commerce, and fostering economic development.
10 most popular airports for international passengers:
- Dubai, UAE (DXB): 86,994,365 passengers
- London, UK (LHR): 74,909,019 passengers
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS): 61,882,546 passengers
- France (CDG): 61,412,198 passengers
- Singapore, Singapore (SIN): 58,411,000 passengers
- Istanbul, Turkey (IST): 58,232,674 passengers
- Incheon, Korea (ICN): 55,763,768 passengers
- Frankfurt, Germany (FRA): 54,089,293 passengers
- Doha, Qatar (DOH): 45,913,805 passengers
- Madrid, Spain (MAD): 43,799,968 passengers