The Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport of United States has been the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998. In 2017, the airport processed close to 104 million passengers. This milestone can be attributed to Atlanta's location as a major connecting hub and port of entry into North America. In fact, Atlanta is well situated within a two-hour flight radius of 80% of the United States population of around 330 million.

In second place, the Beijing Capital International Airport of China is catching up fast, processing close to 96 million passengers in 2017, while third-placed Dubai International Airport of United Arab Emirates processed around 88 million passengers. A major connection point for long-haul international flights - Dubai International Airport is also the world’s busiest in terms of international passengers