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Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is no longer the second-busiest airport in the world.
That's according to the highly touted list maintained by Airports Council International, or ACI. The latest version, released March 15, reported that DFW was third globally for both movements — that is, plane landings and takeoffs — and passenger traffic.
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport remained No. 1 in the world in each category, with nearly 105 million passengers last year. No. 2 Dubai International Airport saw a 32% increase in passengers to nearly 87 million in 2023, rising three spots and knocking DFW down one.
But that's not to say DFW wasn't bustling. Passenger traffic increased 11.4% to nearly 82 million, according to ACI. DFW's trajectory has also been relatively more stable than many other global air travel hubs, with passenger traffic up 8.9% from 2019.
Rounding out the top five for passenger traffic were Heathrow Airport in London and Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
DFW also saw nearly 690,000 plane movements in 2023, up 5% year over year. Atlanta recorded nearly 776,000 plane movements while Chicago O’Hare International Airport was No. 2 with nearly 721,000.
ACI officials credited a rise in international travel and traffic for the rebound in total air traffic.
"Global air travel in 2023 was chiefly fueled by the international segment, propelled by several factors. Among these were the anticipated benefits from China’s reopening and a growing inclination towards travel despite macroeconomic conditions," stated Luis Felipe de Oliveira, ACI world director general, in a statement.
Ben Miller contributed reporting.