Delhi’s IGI Airport Is Now Among The 11 Busiest Airports In The World

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has cemented its place among the world’s busiest aviation hubs, handling more than 78 million passengers in 2025. The latest Airports Council International (ACI) rankings place IGI Airport at No. 11 globally, putting India’s capital firmly alongside some of the biggest international gateways in the world.

According to ACI’s latest passenger traffic data, IGI Airport handled 78,148,081 passengers in 2025, up from 77.8 million in 2024. That represents a 0.42 per cent increase year on year. While the growth may appear modest, Delhi’s position in the ranking is significant, particularly as global air travel continues to expand and airports compete to accommodate rising passenger numbers.

ACI’s rankings are based on airport-reported data and count both enplaned and deplaned passengers. Transit passengers are counted once, providing a consistent basis for comparing passenger traffic across airports. Globally, airports handled approximately 9.8 billion passengers in 2025, an increase of 3.7 per cent from 2024 and 6.5 per cent compared with 2019.

Atlanta Holds The Lead

At the top of the list is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the US, which handled 106,302,208 passengers in 2025. Atlanta has held the title of the world’s busiest airport for much of the period since 1998, with the exception of the pandemic years, when global travel patterns were dramatically disrupted.

Dubai International Airport followed in second place with 95,192,160 passengers, while Tokyo Haneda Airport ranked third with 91,679,814 passengers. The top five was rounded out by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, with 85,660,127 passengers, and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which handled 84,994,548.

The next few spots were closely contested. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport handled 84,856,018 passengers, followed by London Heathrow with 84,482,126 and Istanbul Airport with 84,437,710. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport recorded 83,582,952 passengers, while Denver International Airport completed the top 10 with 82,427,962.

Delhi Leads India’s Traffic

Delhi’s IGI Airport sits just behind Denver, making it the only Indian airport in the global top 20. Its 78.1 million passengers put it ahead of Seoul Incheon, Los Angeles International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Seoul Incheon Airport handled 74,126,912 passengers in 2025, followed by Los Angeles International Airport with 73,709,594. Paris Charles de Gaulle recorded 72,029,407 passengers, while Beijing Capital International Airport handled 70,742,712.

The list also highlights the continued strength of major Asian aviation hubs. Singapore Changi Airport handled 69,982,000 passengers, Amsterdam Schiphol recorded 68,771,592 and Madrid-Barajas handled 68,118,754. Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport rounded out the top 20 with 66,485,213 and 63,409,501 passengers, respectively.

A Global Travel Barometer

The latest rankings offer a snapshot of how international travel is evolving, with the world’s busiest airports spread across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. They also underline the growing importance of airports as major gateways for both international and domestic travel.

For Delhi, the 11th-place ranking reflects the scale of traffic moving through the capital’s primary aviation hub. With more than 78 million passengers passing through its terminals in a single year, IGI Airport is now operating at a level comparable to some of the world’s most established global gateways.

The wider numbers point to an aviation sector that has moved well beyond its pandemic-era disruption. Global passenger traffic in 2025 not only continued its recovery but surpassed 2019 levels, signalling sustained demand for air travel. As airlines expand networks and travellers take to the skies in greater numbers, the world’s busiest airports are likely to become even more closely watched indicators of where global travel is headed next.

FAQs