ACI World published the list of 10 airports most visited in the world in 2021, a ranking again dominated by Atlanta and showing “encouraging signs of traffic recovery” after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Paris CDG for international traffic alone settles for fifth place.
The ranking published on April 11, 2022 by Airports Council International (ACI) World, based on the preliminary compilation of global data for 2021”, estimates that the total number of passengers in the world in 2021 will be almost 4.5 billion, which represents an increase of almost 25% compared to 2020, but also a decrease of more than 50% compared to the results of 2019, before the health crisis. Passenger traffic at these 10 busiest airports, together accounting for almost 10% of global traffic (463 million passengers), saw an increase of 51.8% compared to 2020, a decrease of 29.1% compared to their results in 2019.
The track record also reflects the disparity in recovery, as eight of the top ten are airports in America† After being dethroned by Guangzhou in 2020† Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson regained its position as number 1 in the world with 75.7 million passengers (+76.4%), followed by . airport Dallas/Fort Worth (62.5 million passengers, +58.7%) and those of denver (58.8 million passengers, +74.4%).
come next Chicago O’Hare† Los Angeles† Charlotte and Orlando† Guangzhou-Baiyun only appears in eighth position (40.25 million passengers, -8.0%) just before Chengdu still in China and Vegas back in the US.
These top 10 airports all have a significant share of the domestic traffic, the driving segment of the global recovery, underlines ACI World. The biggest improvement recorded comes from Orlando International Airport (MCO, 40.4 million passengers, +86.7%) which moved from 27th place in 2020 to seventh place in 2021.
At level international traffic there is also a well-known name back: Dubai, with 29.11 million passengers in 2021 (+12.7% compared to 2020, but -66.3% compared to 2019). He’s ahead Istanbul† Amsterdam† Frankfurt and Paris CDG (22.61 million passengers, +18.7% compared to 2020 but -67.6% compared to 2019), the next four places are occupied by Doha† London Heathrow† Antalya† Madrid and cancun (13.26 million passengers)
† ACI’s Global Passenger Traffic Rankings tell the story of a encouraging trend on recovery, with most airports usually busiest before Covid-19 back on top said ACI Global Managing Director Luis Felipe de Oliveira. † Although we are carefully as the recovery is likely to face multiple headwinds, the momentum created by countries’ reopening plans could lead to increased travel in the second half of 2022 he added. ACI World continues to advocate with governments” for them to track the data and ease travel restrictions to restore the safe movement of people, goods and services. This will provide travelers with more travel options and fuel the global recovery thanks to aviation’s unique role in boosting trade, tourism, investment and job creation. †
Less affected by the health crisis, the air freight saw its volumes grow by almost 15% year-on-year, and +3.5% compared to 2019reached a . last year Mention estimated at 124 million tons. Air freight volumes at the top 10 airports, together representing approximately 25% (31.5 million metric tons) of global volumes, grew 12.1% year-over-year in 2021 (and 15.0% compared to the results of 2019). The gains “can be attributed to continued growth in demand for online consumer goods and pharmaceuticals,” said ACI World.
the airport of hong kong (5.0 million metric tons, +12.5%) regained its leading position on the cargo side and the airport of Memphis (4.5 million tons, -2.9%) returned to the second position, followed by that of Shanghai-Pudong (4.0 million tons, +8.0%). This is followed by Anchorage, Seoul-Inchon, Louisville, Taipei-Taoyuan, Los Angeles, Tokyo-Narita and Doha.
ACI World estimates that there have been more than 69 million aircraft movements in the world in 2021, a gain of more than 12% compared to 2020. The top 10 airports represent nearly 8% of global traffic (5.3 million movements) and posted a 33.9% year-on-year increase, which still a 16.1% drop from 2019. All of the top 10 airports for aircraft movements are in the United States, with Atlanta on the podium ahead of Chicago and Dallas.