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Hong Kong International Airport kept the top spot as the world’s busiest air cargo airport for 2024, according to Airports Council International
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Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Memphis International Airport were the second and third busiest, respectively
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Air cargo volumes in 2024 are estimated to have risen by 8.4% year-on-year, to over 124 million metric tons
Hong Kong International Airport maintained its ranking as the world’s busiest air cargo airport for 2024, according to preliminary figures from Airports Council International.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Memphis International Airport came in second and third, respectively. The two switched slots from their 2023 ranking.
The airports in Anchorage, Louisville, Incheon, Miami, Doha, Guangzhou, and Taipei complete the top 10.
Air cargo volumes are estimated to have risen by 8.4% year-on-year, to over 124 million metric tons in 2024. The hike is attributed mostly to strong e-commerce demand, maritime shipping disruptions, and declines in jet fuel prices.
Air cargo volumes in the top 10 airports–representing close to 26% (32.3 million metric tons) of the global volumes in 2024—gained 9.3% in 2024 year-over-year or a gain of 9.5% vis-à-vis their 2019 results (29.5 million tons in 2019).
Air cargo traffic was also found to be more concentrated among the main airports, according to ACI, the trade association of the world’s airports.
Despite geopolitical and economic challenges, the world’s busiest airports held their top rankings, positioning themselves for continued growth, it added.
Top passenger airports
Meanwhile, the 2024 global total passengers are close to 9.5 billion last year based on preliminary figures, up 9% from 2023 or a gain of 3.8% from pre-pandemic levels.
The top 10 busiest passenger airports, representing 9% of global traffic (855 million passengers), witnessed a gain of 8.8% from 2023 and an increase of 8.4% vis-à-vis their 2019 results (789 million passengers in 2019), according to AIC.
Justin Erbacci, ACI World director general, in a statement said: “Amid global challenges, the resilience of the world’s busiest airports shines. These hubs are vital arteries of trade, commerce, and connectivity.”
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport maintained its top position as top passenger airport, followed by Dubai International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
The biggest jump in the Top 10 rankings was recorded for Shanghai Pudong International Airport, going from 21st position in 2023 to the 10th spot in 2024. The jump was fueled by expanded visa policies, the resumption and expansion of international flights, operational enhancements, and the recovery of the Asia-Pacific region, notably China.
Last year saw global passenger growth face significant uncertainties that stemmed from evolving economic and geopolitical landscapes, said ACI.
“Ongoing supply chain challenges and production delays from aircraft manufacturers, as well as geopolitical tensions, posed a risk to growth opportunities by potentially altering flight routes, increasing operational costs, and affecting passenger sentiment,” it said.
Also, the threat of tariffs raised concerns about potential disruptions to global trade, which indirectly affected international travel demand and increased constructions, ACI added.
This year, worldwide passenger traffic is expected to reach 9.9 billion, representing a 4.8% year-on-year growth rate.
While passenger demand remains robust, the rate of expansion is seen to slow as markets shift from recovery-driven surges to structural, long-term growth patterns.
Challenges facing the industry include economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and capacity constraints, which are seen to increasingly shape the industry’s trajectory.
In advanced markets, demand stabilization, supply chain bottlenecks in aircraft production and airport capacity shortage may slow down growth, while in emerging markets, higher infrastructure investment and rising middle-class travel demand will likely continue to drive expansion.
As the industry moves into a new era of growth, “the airport industry must focus on financial viability, investment in infrastructure, operational efficiency, and sustainability,” according to ACI.
