Dubai International Reigns As World's Busiest International Airport For 10th Year In A Row

The Airports Council International (ACI) on Monday announced the top 10 busiest airports for 2023, ranking Dubai International (DXB) as the world's busiest airport for international travel for the 10th year in a row. It catered to 86.9 million passengers in 2023.

ACI ranked DXB first in the international passenger category, while it took the number 2 ranking in the "passengers" category for the first time in history.

"While this milestone was greatly anticipated, its official confirmation instills us with great pride. DXB is proud to uphold its status as the world's foremost international airport for an unparalleled ten years," Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths was quoted as saying by WAM.

Griffiths pointed out that in the last decade, DXB has broken many records and attained numerous milestones, including welcoming the airport's billionth passenger, introducing new terminals and facilities, and collaborating with numerous airlines to broaden connectivity to diverse global destinations.

"Our unwavering commitment to operational excellence has set new benchmarks, cementing DXB's position as a leading entity in global aviation. This remarkable achievement underscores Dubai's collaborative ethos," he added.

Griffith credited the success of Dubai International Airport to the hard work of everyone involved in the airport and all service partners within the airport community and the broader aviation, travel, and tourism sectors. "Our success owes much to the collective efforts of all service partners within the airport community and the broader aviation, travel, and tourism sectors. Together, we have bolstered Dubai's reputation as the premier destination, offering unparalleled travel experiences worldwide," he added.

The Dubai Airports CEO explained that the goal is to keep Dubai International Airport as the busiest for the next ten years and beyond. "We are determined to maintain DXB's dominant position for the next decade and beyond. Through sustained collaboration and innovation, we are poised to shape the future of global aviation, ensuring DXB remains synonymous with excellence across every facet of the passenger journey," he said.

ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said, "Global air travel in 2023 was chiefly fuelled by the international segment, propelled by several factors. Among these were the anticipated benefits from China's reopening and a growing inclination towards travel despite macroeconomic conditions."

The top 10 busiest airports for passengers are still mostly from the United States, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport staying in the number one position. However, there have been some changes in the rankings.

In the passengers' category, Dubai International Airport jumped to second place, while Tokyo Haneda International Airport climbed from 16th to 5th in 2023. Istanbul and New Delhi airports also stayed strong in the rankings, showing significant progress since 2019.