<strong>The world's busiest airports: </strong>While airline passengers might wish for less crowded airports, cities love to brag about their booming airports and the impact of flight on the local economy. Denver International Airport in the US was the 20th busiest in the world last year for passenger traffic, with more than 61 million passengers. That's according to 2017 data from Airports Council International.
The world's busiest airports: While airline passengers might wish for less crowded airports, cities love to brag about their booming airports and the impact of flight on the local economy. Denver International Airport in the US was the 20th busiest in the world last year for passenger traffic, with more than 61 million passengers. That's according to 2017 data from Airports Council International.
John Moore/Getty Images
<strong>Incheon International Airport, South Korea: </strong>South Korea's largest airport welcomed more than 62 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 7.5%.
Incheon International Airport, South Korea: South Korea's largest airport welcomed more than 62 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 7.5%.
courtesy Korean Air
<strong>18. Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore: </strong>Changi is regularly voted the <a >best airport in the world</a>. More than 62 million passengers got to experience it last year, an increase of 6%.
18. Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore: Changi is regularly voted the best airport in the world. More than 62 million passengers got to experience it last year, an increase of 6%.
Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop/CNN
<strong>17. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia:</strong> Last year 63 million passengers visited this Jakarta airport, an increase of 8.3% on 2016.
17. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia: Last year 63 million passengers visited this Jakarta airport, an increase of 8.3% on 2016.
AFP/Getty Images
<strong>16. Indira Gandhi International Airport, India:</strong> Don't let this picture of an empty Terminal 3 fool you. This Indian airport welcomed 63.5 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 14%.
16. Indira Gandhi International Airport, India: Don't let this picture of an empty Terminal 3 fool you. This Indian airport welcomed 63.5 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 14%.
Courtesy David Brossard/Creative Commons/Flickr
<strong>15. Atatürk International Airport, Turkey: </strong>The Istanbul airport saw a 6% increase in traffic last year, with nearly 64 million travelers passing through.
15. Atatürk International Airport, Turkey: The Istanbul airport saw a 6% increase in traffic last year, with nearly 64 million travelers passing through.
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>14. Frankfurt Am Main Airport, Germany:</strong> Germany's busiest airport handled 64.5 million passengers in 2017, 6% more than the year before.
14. Frankfurt Am Main Airport, Germany: Germany's busiest airport handled 64.5 million passengers in 2017, 6% more than the year before.
Pixabay
<strong>13. Guangzhou Bai Yun International Airport, China:</strong> This airport in southern China saw a huge 10.3% increase in passenger traffic last year, welcoming nearly 66 million travelers.
13. Guangzhou Bai Yun International Airport, China: This airport in southern China saw a huge 10.3% increase in passenger traffic last year, welcoming nearly 66 million travelers.
STR/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>12. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, United States:</strong> The fourth-busiest airport in the US, Dallas/Fort Worth flew 67 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 2.3%.
12. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, United States: The fourth-busiest airport in the US, Dallas/Fort Worth flew 67 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 2.3%.
From DFW International Airport
<strong>11. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Netherlands:</strong> The Dutch airport welcomed 68.5 million passengers in 2017, up nearly 8% from the year before.
11. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Netherlands: The Dutch airport welcomed 68.5 million passengers in 2017, up nearly 8% from the year before.
Peter Dejong/AP
<strong>10. Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle, France: </strong>France's busiest airport had more than 69 million passengers last year, up 5.4% on 2016.
10. Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle, France: France's busiest airport had more than 69 million passengers last year, up 5.4% on 2016.
Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Getty Images
<strong>9. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China: </strong>With more than 70 million passengers in 2017, 6% growth from the previous year, Pudong held onto ninth place.
9. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China: With more than 70 million passengers in 2017, 6% growth from the previous year, Pudong held onto ninth place.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>8. Hong Kong International Airport, China: </strong>Hong Kong held onto eighth place last year, with nearly 73 million passengers, up 3.4% compared to 2016. <br />
8. Hong Kong International Airport, China: Hong Kong held onto eighth place last year, with nearly 73 million passengers, up 3.4% compared to 2016.
Xaume Olleros/Bloomberg/Getty Images
<strong>7. London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom:</strong> Heathrow's passenger traffic grew 3% to more than 78 million passengers.
7. London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom: Heathrow's passenger traffic grew 3% to more than 78 million passengers.
Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg/Getty Images
<strong>6. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, United States: </strong>Chicago's larger airport had close to 80 million passengers in 2017, growth of 2.4%.
6. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, United States: Chicago's larger airport had close to 80 million passengers in 2017, growth of 2.4%.
George Rose/Getty Images
<strong>5. Los Angeles International Airport, United States:</strong> Southern California's most popular airport flew 84.6 million passengers last year, 4.5% more than in 2016.
5. Los Angeles International Airport, United States: Southern California's most popular airport flew 84.6 million passengers last year, 4.5% more than in 2016.
FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images
<strong>4. Tokyo's Haneda International Airport, Japan:</strong> More than 85 million passengers last year, 6.5% up from 2016, moved Haneda up into fourth place.
4. Tokyo's Haneda International Airport, Japan: More than 85 million passengers last year, 6.5% up from 2016, moved Haneda up into fourth place.
The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images
<strong>3. Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates: </strong>The busiest passenger airport in the Middle East, Dubai hosted more than 88 million passengers in 2017, up more than 5.5% over 2016.
3. Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates: The busiest passenger airport in the Middle East, Dubai hosted more than 88 million passengers in 2017, up more than 5.5% over 2016.
EyesWideOpen/Getty Images
<strong>2. Beijing Capital International Airport, China:</strong><em> </em>With nearly 96 million passengers in 2017,<em> </em>up 1.5% over 2016, Beijing continues to nip at the heels of the No. 1 airport.
2. Beijing Capital International Airport, China: With nearly 96 million passengers in 2017, up 1.5% over 2016, Beijing continues to nip at the heels of the No. 1 airport.
Andy Wong/AP
<strong>And the winner is: </strong>Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in the US state of Georgia, was the busiest passenger airport in the world in 2017. It hosted nearly 104 million passengers last year, down 0.3% on 2016.
And the winner is: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in the US state of Georgia, was the busiest passenger airport in the world in 2017. It hosted nearly 104 million passengers last year, down 0.3% on 2016.
David Goldman/AP
World's busiest passenger airports
CNN  — 

It’s not just you: Airports really are getting busier.

Close to 104 million passengers passed though Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2017, making it the world’s busiest passenger airport for another year.

That’s according to preliminary 2017 travel data released Monday by Airports Council International.

Globally, there were significant increases in passenger numbers, cargo, international freight and total aircraft movements.

With flight routes this busy, it’s surprising we can see the sky at all.

Major connecting hub

Atlanta can thank its location as a major connecting hub and port of entry into North America for its continued dominance.

The city is within a two-hour flight of 80% of the United States population of more than 300 million people.

However, that could change by next year. Atlanta was the only airport in the top 20 to see a decrease in passenger traffic last year, with a small drop of 0.26%.

Related article World's best airports for 2018

Beijing Capital International has long nipped at the heels of the Hartsfield-Jackson and has held the top spot for two decades. This year, the Chinese capital’s airport came in second place again with 94.4 million passengers (a 1.5% increase).

The overall news is also good for the world’s airports.

Worldwide passenger traffic increased 6.6% in 2017, while international passenger numbers were up 8.4%.

Worldwide cargo traffic, including mail, rose 7.9%. The world’s largest air cargo hub remains Hong Kong, China. The US city of Memphis, Tennessee, took the second spot, followed by Shanghai, China.

ACI’s preliminary figures and percentages from the annual report are based on data from more than 1,200 airports worldwide.

Delhi’s rapid growth

The new Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
The new Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
Courtesy David Brossard/Creative Commons/Flickr

The international airport to watch is Delhi, according to ACI.

The 22nd busiest passenger airport in 2016, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport jumped into 16th position in 2017. Total passenger traffic grew by 14.1%.

“India is poised to be one of the largest aviation markets in the world in the years to come,” ACI claims in its report, noting that Calcutta, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Madras all saw growth of between 10% and 27%.

The second busiest US airport on the list is Los Angeles International Airport, which saw a 4.49% increase in traffic last year.

LAX was still knocked from fourth place to fifth place on the global list by Tokyo International Haneda Airport, with its impressive 6.46% growth.

Related article The world's most punctual airports and airlines in 2018 revealed

Total international freight was up 9.9% on 2016, while total aircraft movements was up 2.4%.

“The surge in cargo volumes and passenger numbers across many of the world’s airports is testament to heightened business and consumer confidence, at least in the short term,” Angela Gittens, director general of ACI World, says.

“Connecting people, business and places still remains paramount to the aviation sector despite the recent threats of a step backwards in market liberalization in some major economies.”

The world’s busiest airports 2017

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Georgia) – 104 million passengers

2. Beijing Capital International Airport (China) – 96 million

3. Dubai International Airport (United Arab Emirates) – 88 million

4. Tokyo Haneda International Airport (Japan) – 85 million

5. Los Angeles International Airport (California) – 84.6 million

6. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (Illinois) – 80 million

7. London Heathrow Airport (United Kingdom) – 78 million

8. Hong Kong International Airport (China) – 73 million

9. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (China) – 70 million

10. Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle (France) – 69 million

11. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Netherlands) – 68.5 million

12. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Texas) – 67 million

13. Guangzhou Bai Yun International Airport (China) – 66 million

14. Frankfurt Am Main Airport (Germany) – 64.5 million

15. Atatürk International Airport (Turkey) – 64 million

16. Indira Gandhi International Airport (India) – 63.5 million

17. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Indonesia) – 63 million

18. Singapore Changi Airport (Singapore) – 62.22 million

19. Incheon International Airport (South Korea) – 62.16 million

20. Denver International Airport (Colorado) – 61 million