Another five Asian airports reach 60 million annual passengers in 2017 - CAPA

[Strategic Aviation]

Asia on the ascent: another five Asian airports reach 60 million annual passengers in 2017 - CAPA

Asia now accounts for 45% of the world’s top 20 airports

Fourteen airports handled more than 60 million passengers in 2016: four in Asia, four in North America, five in Europe, and one in the Middle East. The four Asian airports were all from North Asia – Beijing Capital, Tokyo Haneda, Hong Kong International and Shanghai Pudong.

Another five Asian airports reached 60 million annual passengers in 2017, along with one airport from another region (Denver from North America).

Guangzhou Baiyun and Seoul Incheon handled over 60 million passengers in 2017, raising the North Asia total to six airports. For the first time, airports from Southeast Asia – Singapore Changi and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – and from South Asia – Delhi Indira Gandhi – joined the 60 million club.

For 2017, there are now 20 airports in the club of having least 60 million annual passengers, consisting of nine in Asia, five in North America, five in Europe, and one in the Middle East. In 2017 Asia therefore accounted for a leading 45% of airports with at least 60 million passengers, compared to handling only 29% in 2016.

Asia will likely account for 50% of the world’s airports handling 60 million-plus passenger airports in 2018, and more than 60% in 2020.

As highlighted earlier in this report, Kuala Lumpur International and Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta should reach 60 million annual passengers in 2018. Mumbai in India, Taipei in Taiwan and three airports in mainland China will likely reach 60 million passengers within the next few years – Chengdu, Kunming and Shenzhen.

Mumbai, Taipei, Chengdu, Kunming and Shenzhen each handled more than 40 million passengers in 2016. Chengdu likely reached 50 million passengers in 2017 (annual figures from Chengdu will not be available for a couple of months) while the other four airports will likely reach 50 million passengers in 2018. All five airports could hit 60 million by 2020.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Dubai is the world's busiest airport for international passengers - Traveller.com.au

10. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
Opening commercially in 1979, Taoyuan handled a record 42.3 million passengers in 2016, making it the 10th busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic. It is the main international hub for China Airlines and EVA Air.

9. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Bangkok's main airport opened in 2006 and is the main hub for Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, and Orient Thai Airlines. Its most popular international routes are to Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Dubai and Shanghai.

8. Frankfurt Airport
Germany's largest airport is also the biggest in the world in terms of total international destinations served. Total passenger numbers of 61m make it the 12th busiest airport overall.

7. Seoul Incheon International Airport
The world's second best airport according to the 2016 Skytrax Awards, Incheon International features an ice rink, casino, golf course, spa, sauna, free showers and seven gardens. Total annual traffic at the South Korean airport has grown from 14.5m in 2001 to 49.3m in 2015.

6. Singapore Changi Airport - 54.8m (2015)
Needless to say, international passengers account for all of Singapore's traffic - it is a city state, after all. The airport has been named the world's best in the Skytrax Awards for four years on the bounce. Its offerings include two free cinemas, a swimming pool, a six-metre waterfall and a butterfly garden housing 1,000 species.

5. Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
The ninth busiest airport overall, Paris-Charles de Gaulle is fourth in terms of international passengers. Its busiest routes are to New York JFK, Heathrow, Barcelona El Prat and Dubai, while Air France is its biggest customer.

4. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
The busiest routes from Amsterdam Airport - with its six runways - are to Heathrow, Barcelona, Paris, Rome and Gatwick. It is one of the world's most elderly airports, having been established as a military airbase in 1916 and used by civilian aircraft since 1920.

3. Hong Kong International Airport
Built on the island of Chek Lap Kok, on reclaimed land, Hong Kong International opened in 1998. It has grown in size by 153 per cent since 2002, when it handled just 27m passengers. Skytrax named it the world's fifth best airport last year.

2. London Heathrow Airport
The busiest airport in Europe welcomed just over 30m fliers in 1985 - now that figure stands at more than 70m. Its shortage of runways makes further growth difficult. The busiest routes from Heathrow are to New York-JFK, Dubai, Dublin, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.

1. Dubai International Airport
Dubai remains the world's busiest in terms of international passengers, and third busiest overall (behind Beijing Capital and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta).