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Dubai International Airport is Now the World’s Busiest Airport, Overtaking Atlanta

  • Publish date: since 5 hours Reading time: 1 min read
Dubai International Airport is Now the World’s Busiest Airport, Overtaking Atlanta

Move over Atlanta—Dubai International Airport (DXB) has just claimed the crown as the world’s busiest airport, based on scheduled airline seat capacity for January 2026.

It’s a first for Dubai, overtaking Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which has held the top spot for years.

How Dubai Got Ahead

The ranking isn’t just about passenger counts—it’s all about how many airline seats are on offer.

  • DXB: ~5.5 million seats

  • Atlanta: just under 5 million

  • Tokyo Haneda: third place

Atlanta’s dominance came from its massive US domestic network, but Dubai’s rise reflects the growing power of international hubs in global travel.

A Hot Start to 2026

The new year has kicked off with a bang for DXB. According to Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths, daily passenger numbers have stayed above 300,000. In just the first 11 days of January, the airport expected around 3.4 million passengers.

That’s a lot of suitcases rolling through terminals!

Why Dubai Keeps Leading

Dubai International isn’t just busy—it’s strategic:

  • A strong tourism market

  • Tons of connecting passengers

  • Expanding airline routes around the world

Even though the ranking is based on seat capacity, it’s a solid signal of travel demand in the months ahead. If you’re flying out soon, you’ll see exactly why Dubai has taken the lead.

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