- Dubai International Airport led December 2025 with 5.5 million scheduled seats, a 4% rise
- Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport ranked seventh with 4.31 million seats, up 9%
- OAG rankings measure airports by total scheduled seat capacity, not just flight movements
Global air travel ended 2025 on a busy note, with major aviation hubs reporting strong seat capacity for December, according to data released by OAG. The latest rankings underline how large hub airports continue to dominate year-end travel, driven by holiday movement, strong airline networks, and sustained demand across both domestic and international routes. Notably, India has secured a place among the world's busiest airports, reflecting the country's growing role in global aviation. OAG prepares separate rankings for "global airports" and "international airports." The global list is calculated using total scheduled airline capacity, covering both domestic and international flights, while the international list looks only at seats allocated to overseas routes. This distinction is important, as airports with extensive domestic networks may appear busier by flight numbers, but not necessarily by total passenger-carrying capacity.
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Dubai Holds The Top Spot, Delhi Sees Strong Growth
For December 2025, Dubai International Airport retained its position as the world's busiest airport by seat capacity. The airport recorded 5.50 million scheduled seats, marking a 4 per cent increase compared to December 2024. Dubai's position is supported by its role as a global long-haul hub, strong connectivity across continents, and sustained tourism demand during the winter travel season.
India's Indira Gandhi International Airport also featured prominently, ranking seventh globally. Delhi Airport recorded 4.31 million seats, reflecting a 9 per cent year-on-year increase. The growth highlights rising domestic travel volumes, expanding international connections, and the airport's role as a key hub for South Asia.
The World's Top 10 Busiest Global Airports (By Seats)
Based on total scheduled capacity for December 2025, the world's busiest airports are:
- Dubai International Airport (DXB) - 5,498,334 seats
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) - 5,211,533
- Tokyo International Airport, Haneda (HND) - 4,675,127
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) - 4,430,746
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR) - 4,345,154
- Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) - 4,317,590
- Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) - 4,306,307
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) - 4,290,733
- Istanbul Airport (IST) - 4,224,881
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) - 4,119,711
These airports typically combine strategic geography, dominant home airlines, large-scale infrastructure, and strong economic or tourism pull, allowing them to support high passenger volumes even during peak seasons.
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Why Capacity Matters In Airport Rankings
OAG defines the "busiest" airports using scheduled seat capacity, which offers a forward-looking view of how many passengers airlines expect to carry. This differs from rankings based on flight movements alone, which count take-offs and landings. Airports with dense short-haul domestic schedules may handle many flights but fewer passengers per aircraft. Capacity-based rankings, by contrast, highlight airports handling larger aircraft, longer routes, or consistently high demand.
For travellers, these rankings offer insight into where the world's biggest aviation hubs are located and how cities like Delhi are increasingly sharing space with long-established global gateways.
