According to preliminary data from Airports Council International (ACI), Hong Kong International Airport remained the world’s busiest air cargo hub in 2024.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Memphis International Airport ranked second and third, respectively, having swapped positions compared to their 2023 rankings.

Anchorage, Louisville, Incheon, Miami, Doha, Guangzhou, and Taipei also secured spots among the top ten air cargo airports.

Air cargo volume in 2024 is expected to increase by 8.4% year-over-year, surpassing 124 million metric tons. This growth is primarily attributed to robust e-commerce demand, disruptions in maritime shipping, and declining jet fuel prices.

The top ten airports in 2024 handled nearly 26% of the global air cargo volume (323 million metric tons), reflecting a 9.3% to 9.5% increase compared to 2019.

According to ACI, air cargo traffic is becoming increasingly concentrated in major hub airports.

Despite facing geopolitical and economic challenges, the world’s busiest airports have maintained their top rankings and are positioned for continued growth.

Busiest Passenger Airports

Meanwhile, preliminary data shows that global passenger traffic reached nearly 9.5 billion in 2024, a 9% increase from 2023 and 3.8% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

According to ACI, the world’s ten busiest passenger airports (handling 9% of total global traffic, or 855 million passengers) grew by 8.8% from 2023 and by 8.4% compared to 2019 levels (789 million passengers).

ACI Director General Justin Erbacci stated, “Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines. These hubs are vital arteries of trade, commerce, and connectivity.”

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retained its position as the top passenger airport, followed by Dubai International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport made the largest leap in the top ten rankings, jumping from 21st place in 2023 to 10th in 2024. This was driven by relaxed visa policies, the return and expansion of international flights, operational improvements, and the recovery of the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China.

ACI noted that last year’s passenger growth occurred amid significant uncertainties stemming from a shifting economic and geopolitical landscape. “Ongoing supply chain challenges and production delays by aircraft manufacturers, as well as geopolitical tensions, may jeopardize growth by altering flight routes, increasing operating costs, and impacting passenger sentiment,” it said.

Additionally, tariff threats have raised concerns about potential disruptions to global trade, indirectly affecting international travel demand and pushing up construction costs, ACI added.

In 2025, global passenger traffic is expected to reach 9.9 billion, a 4.8% year-over-year increase.

While passenger demand remains strong, the pace of growth is expected to moderate as the market transitions from a recovery-driven surge to a structurally sustained growth pattern.

Challenges shaping the industry include economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and capacity constraints.

In developed markets, stable demand, aircraft production bottlenecks, and airport capacity shortages may slow growth. Meanwhile, in emerging markets, higher infrastructure investment and a growing middle class with increasing travel demand are likely to continue driving expansion.

As the industry enters a new era of growth, “the airport sector must focus on financial viability, infrastructure investment, operational efficiency, and sustainability,” ACI stated.