Apr 6, 2023
By: Srishti Magan
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On April 5, the Airports Council International (ACI) released its list of the world’s 10 busiest airports in 2022. The Indira Gandhi International Airport aka the Delhi Airport made it to the list for the first time. ACI takes into account global and international passenger traffic for the list.
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With passenger traffic of more than 59.4 million, the Delhi Airport ranked ninth on the list, up from its 13th position in 2021. It’s the only airport in the top 10 list from South and South East Asia. Here are the other airports on the list:
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Just like in 2021, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the US topped the list for 2022 as well, recording passenger traffic of 93.7 million.
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With 73.4 million passengers, the Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) was second on the list. DFW, which is the largest hub for the US airline American Airlines, was second on the list in 2021 as well.
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Denver Airport (DEN) is the third on the list with 69.3 million passengers in 2022. DEN opened in 1995. It was named the "Best Large Airport" in the 2021 USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards.
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Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) ranks fourth on the list with 68.3 million passengers. The top four airports in the list are all from the US.
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With 66.1 million passengers, the Dubai Airport (DBX) is the only non-US airport to land a spot in the top 5. DBX is also one of the busiest cargo airports and has constructed a flower centre to handle flower imports and exports as Dubai is a major hub for it.
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Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) recorded passenger traffic of 65.9 million, placing it sixth on the list. Interestingly, due to the airport's proximity to Hollywood studios, LAX has been a part of various films and television shows.
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At the 7th position is Istanbul Airport (IST) with 64.3 million passengers. It’s the busiest airport in Europe.
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The largest of the six international airports in the London airport system, London Heathrow Airport is eighth on the list. With total passenger traffic of 61.6 million, it saw the biggest jump among the top 10 - it moved up from 54th position in 2021.
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Opened in 1974, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is last on the list. It recorded passenger traffic of 57.5 million in 2022.
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According to ACI, the top 10 busiest airports represent 10 percent of global traffic. ACI also noted that with the resumption of international travel, global passenger traffic reached close to 7 billion in 2022 - an increase of 53.5 percent from 2021.
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