World’s Busiest Airports – 2010

By Dian Hasan | May 21, 2010

We all know about globalization and how our planet is getting smaller as the human race becomes increasingly connected. These facts are fueled by global trade, and other global activities that includes international travel.

Travel is probably one area that most of us can directly relate to and understand just how our world of today works.  And which better place to see travel in action than at the airport? The hubs of movement of passengers and goods by air.

Each year, as the global population continues to grow – regardless whether the global economy expands or contracts – more people take to the skies for the first time. And another air passenger is born.

Here’s a look at the WORLD’S BUSIEST AIRPORTS, by passenger traffic – 2010 (Jan-Feb) according to Airports Council International. Passenger traffic is measured by number of total passengers, and a passenger is described as someone who arrives in, departs from, or transfers through the airport on a given day.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Total Passenger: 12,414,584 (Jan – Feb 2010), 88,032,086 (2009)

Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing, China
Total Passenger: 10,741,899 (Jan – Feb 2010), 65,329,851 (2009)

Tokyo International Airport, Haneda, Japan
Total Passenger: 9,612,029 (Jan – Feb 2010), 61,903,656 (2009)

London Heathrow, UK
Total Passenger: 9,461,370 (Jan – Feb 2010), 66,037,578 (2009)

O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Total Passenger: 9,061,143 (Jan – Feb 2010), 64,397,891 (2009)

Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California, USA
Total Passenger: 8,570,217 (Jan – Feb 2010), 56,518,605 (2009)

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas, Texas, USA
Total Passenger: 8,122,059 (Jan – Feb 2010), 56,030,457 (2009)

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand
Total Passenger: 8,120,228 (Jan – Feb 2010), 40,500,269 (2009)

Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Paris, France
Total Passenger: 7,975,812 (Jan – Feb 2010), 57,884,954 (2009)

Hong Kong International Airport, Chep Lap Kok, Hong Kong, China
Total Passenger: 7,767,000 (Jan – Feb 2010), 45,560,888 (2009)

Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado, USA
Total Passenger: 7,477,348 (Jan – Feb 2010), 50,167,485 (2009)