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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
An aerial view of the 50th Paris Air Show, at Le Bourget airport near Paris.

With the rise of the middle class, disposable income and comparatively cheaper fares, air travel is taking off like never before, especially in developing countries.

Let's take a look at some airports that are enjoying a boom in passenger traffic.

Source: Wikipedia

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
A view of Maynard H Jackson Jr. International Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

City: Atlanta, Georgia

Country: United States

Total passengers: 63,579,546 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 1

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which started operations in 1926, has been the busiest airport in the world since 1998.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Passengers wait to board the Airport Express train at the subway station at Beijing Capital International Airport, China.

Beijing Capital International Airport

City: Beijing

Country: China

Total passengers: 55,919,431 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 2

Beijing Capital International Airport, which started operations in 1958, saw 557,167 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
A view of Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom.

Heathrow Airport

City: London

Country: United Kingdom

Total passengers: 48,312,082 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 3

Heathrow Airport, which started operations in 1929, saw 475,176 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
A view of Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, California, United States.

Los Angeles International Airport

City: Los Angeles

Country: United States

Total passengers: 45,075,895 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 4

Los Angeles International Airport, which started operations in 1930, saw 601,416 aircraft take-off and land in 2011.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
An employee of Japan Airlines stands in front of ticket machines at Tokyo International Airport, Japan.

Tokyo International Airport

City: Tokyo

Country: Japan

Total passengers: 44,835,435 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 5

Tokyo International Airport, which started operations in 1931, is one of the two major airports that cater to Greater Tokyo Area in Japan.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Holiday travellers wait in line for security screening at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

O'Hare International Airport

City: Chicago, Illinois

Country: United States

Total passengers: 44,538,012 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 6

O'Hare International Airport, which started operations in 1955, saw 878,108 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
A plane passes in between the Emirates Airlines terminal, left, and the terminal dedicated for A380 aircraft, left, at the concourse in Dubai International Airport.

Dubai International Airport

City: Dubai

Country: United Arab Emirates

Total passengers: 43,971,839 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 7

Dubai International Airport, which started operations in 1940, is also the sixth busiest cargo airport in the world.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Passengers look at a flight departure information board in a terminal at the Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Roissy, near Paris.

Charles de Gaulle Airport

City: Paris

Country: France

Total passengers: 41,711,256 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 8

Charles de Gaulle Airport, which started operations in 1974, saw 497,763 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Passengers at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, rest before their flights.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

City: Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

Country: United States

Total passengers: 40,931,724 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 9

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, which started operations in 1973, saw 646,803 aircraft take-off and land in 2011.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
A Cathay Pacific Airways passenger plane takes off at the Hong Kong Airport.

Hong Kong International Airport

City: Hong Kong

Country: Hong Kong

Total passengers: 39,735,000 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 10

Hong Kong International Airport, which started operations in 1998, has about 90 airlines operating flights to more than 150 cities across the world.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Passengers of Batavia Air gather in front of a ticket booth at the Sukarno-Hatta airport on the outskirts of Jakarta.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport

City: Banten

Country: Indonesia

Total passengers: 39,582,018 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 11

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, which started operations in 1985, saw 369,740 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
An aircraft of German air carrier Lufthansa rolls on a runway above a highway in Frankfurt, Germany.

Frankfurt Airport

City: Frankfurt

Country: Germany

Total passengers: 38,663,262 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 12

Frankfurt Airport, which started operations in 1936, saw 482,242 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Singapore Airlines cabin crew walk past check-in counters at Terminal 3 of Changi Airport.

Changi Airport

City: Singapore

Country: Singapore

Total passengers: 35,457,356 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 13

Changi Airport, which started operations in 1981, saw 324,722 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Two-year-old Luna and her aunt hold a banner at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Schiphol Airport

City: Amsterdam

Country: The Netherlands

Total passengers: 35,357,644 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 14

Schiphol Airport, which started operations in 1920, saw 423,407 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Travellers line up at Denver International Airport.

Denver International Airport

City: Denver, Colorado

Country: United States

Total passengers: 35,183,343 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 15

Denver International Airport, which started operations in 1994, saw 635,445 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Boeing 787 Dreamliner belonging to China Southern Airlines is given a water cannon salute at Guangzhou airport.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

City: Guangzhou, Guangdong

Country: China

Total passengers: 34,907,598 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 16

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which started operations in 2004, saw 373,314 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
A view of a terminal at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.

Suvarnabhumi Airport

City: Bangkok

Country: Thailand

Total passengers: 34,373,606 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 17

Suvarnabhumi Airport, which started operations in 2006, saw 312,493 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Travellers walk through a security line at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.

John F Kennedy International Airport

City: New York

Country: United States

Total passengers: 33,977,120 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 18

John F Kennedy International Airport, which started operations in 1948, saw 408,913 aircraft take-off and land in 2011.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
A Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-400 takes off at Istanbul's international airport.

Ataturk International Airport

City: Istanbul

Country: Turkey

Total passengers: 33,946,064 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 19

Ataturk International Airport, which started operations in 1924, is the main international airport serving Istanbul.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
A view of Terminal 2 of Pudong International Airport in Shanghai.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

City: Shanghai

Country: China

Total passengers: 31,570,365 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 20

Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which started operations in 1999, is the main international airport serving Shanghai.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Lawrence Jones plays cards with his mother Susan Hourihan and brother Harvey as they wait for their flight to London, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

City: Kuala Lumpur

Country: Malaysia

Total passengers: 30,423,601 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 21

Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which started operations in 1998, saw 283,352 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Passengers wait for their flight to London with British Airways at San Francisco International Airport.

San Francisco International Airport

City: San Francisco, California

Country: United States

Total passengers: 29,970,381 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 22

San Francisco International Airport, which started operations in 1927, is a major gateway to Europe and Asia.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
US Airways passengers check in for their flights at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport

City: Charlotte, North Carolina

Country: United States

Total passengers: 29,147,707 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 23

Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which started operations in 1937, saw 552,093 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Ryan Caille and Megan Wile of Houston do crossword puzzles at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.

McCarran International Airport

City: Las Vegas, Nevada

Country: United States

Total passengers: 28,037,211 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 24

McCarran International Airport, which started operations in 1963, saw 527,739 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.

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25 airports that saw most number of passengers in the world

Last updated on: December 03, 2013 14:24 IST
Passengers smile as they hold their boarding passes for an aircraft heading to Paris at the departure terminal of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.

Seoul Incheon International Airport

City: Seoul

Country: South Korea

Total passengers: 27,934,142 (January-August 2013)

Rank in passenger traffic: 25

Seoul Incheon International Airport, which started operations in 2001, saw 254,037 aircraft take-off and land in 2012.