Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the US remains the only airport to have handled more than 100 million passengers in 2024: OAG
Global travel data provider OAG reports that airports worldwide are undergoing major transformations to meet future growth in passenger traffic. Several new and existing hubs are now targeting the 100 million annual passenger mark within the next decade. According to the report, airports in the Middle East are planning to collectively handle over 750 million passengers per year by 2050.
In a press statement, OAG says that Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the US remains the only airport to have handled more than 100 million passengers in 2024, recording 108 million travellers.
It adds that Dubai International (DXB) is ranked as the second busiest global airport and the busiest international hub of 2024, with 92.3 million passengers. This marks a 6.1 pc rise compared to 2023, nearly twice the year-on-year growth recorded at ATL of 3.3 pc.
The statement says that several airport projects are now underway, with governments and aviation authorities investing in new infrastructure and shifting capacity to emerging mega hubs. For instance, in response to forecasted growth in passenger traffic, Dubai is expanding its secondary airport, Dubai World Central (DWC). As per authorities, DWC will gradually replace DXB as the primary airport in the city. Under this plan, it plans to include five runways and a modular development strategy, with a final capacity of 260 million passengers per year.
OAG says that Istanbul Airport, which began operations in 2018, is being developed in phases. Current capacity stands at 90 million, expected to reach 120 million by the end of 2025. Additionally, passenger traffic in 2024 stood at 80 million, which was up by 5.2 pc. The airport aims to handle 100 million passengers by 2027 and has a long-term capacity goal of 200 million by 2028.
The British data provider says that in Saudi Arabia, the new King Salman International Airport is under construction near Riyadh. As per the statement, phase one aims to handle 120 million passengers by 2030, with capacity increasing to 185 million by 2050. In 2024, the existing King Khalid International Airport (RUH) served 38 million passengers. This new airport is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme, which includes a broader target of 330 million total visitors by the end of the decade.
OAG says that as a result, the projected cumulative capacity of DWC, IST, and King Salman International will exceed 645 million passengers, more than three times the number currently handled. Additional growth is also expected from other hubs, including Doha’s Hamad International Airport, with a capacity of 65 million passengers, and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, with a revised capacity of 45 million.
The data provider says that if all targets are met, the Middle East will be positioned to handle over 750 million passengers annually, more than double the volumes currently processed.
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