US airports top the world’s busiest – again

US airports are once again at the top of the world’s busiest list.

Back on top

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has earned itself the mantle of being the world’s busiest airport in 2021. With the exception of a Covid-enforced lull last year that knocked it off top spot, Atlanta International has been a permanent fixture of the Airport Council International’s leaderboard for several years. As demand for air travel took flight again in 2021, it welcomed just under 76 million people – more than the entire population of the UK.

And it’s not just Atlanta getting back to its best. Of the 10 busiest airports in the world in 2021, a modest eight were spread across the United States, making us the aviation crossroads of the world.

First class

Some of last year’s challengers massively ramped up their rookie figures too, and are now competing at the big table. Airports like Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver International, and Charlotte Douglas International were a lowly 10th, 16th and 34th last time round. In 2021 though, they were the second, third, and fifth busiest.

The only two non-US airports making up the top 10 were both in China. Guangzhou Baiyun, and Chengdu Shuangliu have benefitted from the gradual return of international travel, taking eighth and ninth place. But they’re going to have to go a long way before they topple the kings of the global airspace.