Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has secured its position as the third busiest airport globally for 2024, according to preliminary data from Airports Council International.
DFW welcomed 87.82 million passengers through its terminals last year, a significant 7.4% increase in passenger traffic compared to 2023, highlighting the airport’s continued growth in a recovering aviation industry.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport maintained its top position with over 108 million passengers, while Dubai International Airport claimed second place with 92.33 million travelers. The three airports form the elite tier of global aviation hubs handling massive passenger volumes in the post-pandemic era.
DFW’s impressive performance extends beyond passenger numbers. The airport also ranks third globally in aircraft movements. The Texas hub recorded 743,203 takeoffs and landings in 2024, cementing its status as a critical transportation nexus for both domestic and international travel.
This achievement comes amid strong growth in aviation demand worldwide.
Global passenger traffic showed robust recovery across the board, with nearly 9.5 billion travelers worldwide in 2024 – a 9% increase from 2023. The top 10 busiest airports collectively experienced an 8.8% traffic increase compared to 2023, exceeding their 2019 pre-pandemic figures by 8.4%.
While the aviation industry shows strong growth signals, experts note that advanced markets may face growth limitations due to demand stabilization, supply chain bottlenecks in aircraft production, and airport capacity constraints. Nevertheless, DFW’s performance demonstrates the enduring strength of Texas as a major player in global air transportation.