Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World

In this modern world, airway is the most convent medium of travel in terms of time and safety and its global presence. The number of people travelling by air is constantly rising every day and so is the number of aircraft and airports. There are more than 40,000 thousands airports around the globe used for civilian and cargo transport. This list is gives the top 10 busiest airports in the world in terms of the total annual passenger transition registered. Naturally this kind of list always changes, what we listed below is as per the data of the year 2012.

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, USA

It tops our list of busiest airports in the world. Since 1998 it has been the busiest airport in the world. It accommodated more than 95 million passengers last year. This was named in honor of former mayor Maynard Jackson on 2003. A lot of major improvements has been carried out last decade due to which the Air Transport Research Society named Atlanta the world’s most efficient airport in 2011. On an average day more than 250,000 travelers pass through its terminals on nearly 2,500 flights. Today the airport has around 55,300 employees, making it the largest employment center in the US state of Georgia. Its total layout is approximately 6,800,000 square foot.

2. Beijing Capital International Airport, China

Beijing Capital International Airport is the second busiest international port in the world as on 2012. This major airport of China is located 32 km northeast of Beijing’s city center in the Chaoyang district. It is the busiest airport in Asia. Beijing Airport was opened on March 2, 1958 and is the main hub for Air China now. In the 2012, it handled 81,929,359 passengers. It has 3 terminals among which the 3rd terminal was opened in 2008 in time for the Olympic Games. The 3rd terminal is now the second largest airport terminal in the world after Dubai international airport’s Terminal 3, and the fifth largest building in the world by area and a major landmark in Beijing representing the growing and developing Chinese city. It also became one of the most beautiful airports in the world after the opening of the 3rd terminal. The transportation is very easy with the Airport express line of subway that runs connects the city center to the airport. Also there are more than 9 shuttle bus routes connecting the airport with various locations in the downtown area. There is also free bus service for cross terminal transportation.

3. London Heathrow Airport, UK

This major international airport is located in the London Brough of Hillingdon, in West London with 22 km west of central London. Heathrow Airport started in 1929 for the first time and is now used by over 90 airlines flying to 170 destinations worldwide. It is the primary hub for British Airways. Heathrow is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the 3rd busiest in world as of 2012. The airport provides a wide range of facilities including those for business, children and disabled travelers. Public transport is very much reliable here with plenty of coaches, taxi and buses. The Heathrow Express is also one of the major ways of transportation here. It holds the record of handling highest number of international passengers than any other airport around the globe. It is also the busiest airport in Europe by passenger traffic and the third busiest by traffic movement. It has 5 terminals out of which 4 are passenger terminals and the fifth one is for cargo.

4. Tokyo International Airport, Japan

Commonly known as Haneda Airport, it is located in Ota, Tokyo, and 14 km south of Tokyo station. It was first opened in 1931. In the year 2012, its total passenger transition recorded up to 66,795,178 making it the second busiest airport in Asia and 4th in the world. The ForbesTravelers recognized Haneda Airport as the most punctual airport in the world for two years in a row in December 2009. With its 4 terminals it has the ability to handle nearly 90 million passengers per year. Haneda handles almost all domestic flights to and from Tokyo, but it also seen a dramatic increase in the number of international flights after the opening of a dedicated international terminal.

5. O’Hare International Airport, Chicago

Chicago O’Hare International Airport is located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. It was the busiest airport in the world till 2008 and now in 5th position in the list. It recorded more than 66 million travelers last year. It also has a strong international presence, with flights to more than 60 foreign destinations. O’Hare has been voted the “Best Airport in North America” for 10 years by Readers of the U.S. Edition of Business Traveler Magazine (1998–2003) and Global Traveler Magazine (2004–2007). It has 4 passenger terminals. This international renowned airport has been referred in many movies, TV shows and songs. It has the bad reputation of being one of the least punctual airports in the United States based on percentage of delayed flights due to high volume and crowded schedule which leads to long delays of flights. Several Modernization plan although taken to resolve this issue. Recently a sum of $65 has been sanctioned by the federal government for the construction of runway, a part of the massive modernizing project taken in to hand.

6. Los Angeles International Airport, USA

Located to the south coast of California, in the 2nd most populated metropolitan area in the US, it is the 6th busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic. It is situated around 15 miles (24 km) from the city of Los Angeles and the two places are well connected by rail and bus service. It registered more than 63 million passengers in 2012. It has 8 terminals and well packed with impressive shops, restaurants and many other things to fulfill the need of passengers. The airport holds the claim for “the world’s busiest origin and destination (O & D) airport” for the year 2011 and it is also the only airport to rank among the top five U.S. airports for both passenger and cargo traffic.

7. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, France

Popularly known as the Roissy Airport, it is one of the world’s principal aviation centers and the largest airport in France. The Charles de Gaulle Airport is named after Charles de Gaulle, the french leader. It is situated at around 25 km North-East of Paris with extensive road and rail connections to with the capital city. It is one of the first airports to have a rail service connection. This airport handled 61,556,202 passengers in 2012. It has 3 terminals. It is also the 2nd busiest airport in Europe.

8. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, USA

It is located in the state of Texas of United states of America. The airport is the largest airport in Texas and second largest in USA with land area of at 17,207 acres. It is also ranked as the best cargo airport in the world by Air Cargo World. The most convenient medium of travel is taxi and bus which are easily available here. Here you can get free Wi-Fi connection which is offered by AT&T in terminals and parking garages. In June 2013 it is expected to reach a milestone of reaching 200 nonstop destinations, which makes it a group of selected airports (with only 6 others) worldwide with that distinction. It consists of 5 terminals and recorded more than 58 million passengers in 2012.

9. Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, Indonesia

Located in Tangerang, Banten of Indonesia, this international airport is named after the first President of Indonesia, Soekarno, and the first vice-president, Mohammad Hatta. It is known as Cengkareng by Indonesian and the origin of its IATA code lies in the Cengkareng, a sub district located to the northwest of the city. It began operations in 1985 and has a recorded more than 57 million passenger last year. ForbesTraveller, the leading travel related information provider recognized Soekarno–Hatta International Airport as the 6th most punctual airport in the world. It have 3 terminals and it is known as one of the fastest growing airport in the world in terms of passengers jumping from 32 million in 2008 to 57 million in 2012 which shifted its position from 37th in 2008 to 9th position in global ranking of busiest airports in world, a huge increase in a very short period.

10. Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates

A major airline hub in Middle East, the Dubai international airport is the 10th busiest airport in the world. It is spread over an area of 8,640 acres of land. It is also the 3rd busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic in 2012. It was opened in 1960 and was the first airport to be built in the UAE with a single 1.8 km runway. It has three terminals with each having the capacity of 75 million passengers each year. Dubai International Airport has been the winner of Best Airport in Middle East Award for four consecutive years. The terminal 1 and 3 is for international passengers and they account for 90% of the total visitors annually. The transport system is very good to and from this airport by train, bus and taxi. The taxi service is provided by the government-run Dubai Transport airport taxi service with nominal charge. In the year 2012 it registered more than 57 million passengers.