Dubai set to leapfrog London to claim worlds busiest international airport

[markis10]

Dubai International Airport seems formally set to overtake London Heathrow Airport as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers when year-end figures for Dubai are released Jan. 27.


Dubai is projected to reach 71 million passengers in 2014. These are all international passengers, as no domestic United Arab Emirates (UAE) traffic uses Dubai International.


London Heathrow recorded 68.1 million international passengers for 2014, although in terms of total passenger numbers it remains ahead of Dubai International, as a further 5.3 million domestic passengers passed through its terminals. The 73.4 million passenger total was up 1.4% on 2013.


There are airports elsewhere in the world that have higher numbers of total passengers—Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson and Beijing Capital airports—but these handle a higher proportion of domestic passengers.

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[clazman]

IMO this is not a good thing, the busier they get, the less service and more chance of issues, delays etc and people then try and avoid the location

 

[amaroo]

Wonder if it's natural progression, or those nasty APD charges kicking in?

 

[Himeno]

Dubai International Airport seems formally set to overtake London Heathrow Airport as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers when year-end figures for Dubai are released Jan. 27.


Dubai is projected to reach 71 million passengers in 2014. These are all international passengers, as no domestic United Arab Emirates (UAE) traffic uses Dubai International.


London Heathrow recorded 68.1 million international passengers for 2014, although in terms of total passenger numbers it remains ahead of Dubai International, as a further 5.3 million domestic passengers passed through its terminals. The 73.4 million passenger total was up 1.4% on 2013.


There are airports elsewhere in the world that have higher numbers of total passengers—Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson and Beijing Capital airports—but these handle a higher proportion of domestic passengers.

Dubai overtakes Heathrow as busiest international airport | Airports & Routes content from ATWOnline

I don't understand how ATL has more pax then ORD, DFW or LAX. Yes, it's a "fortress hub" for DL, but DFW, DEN, PHL, CLT and IAH are also "fortress hubs" and LAX, ORD and JFK are large hubs for multiple airlines.

 

[Himeno]

Wonder if it's natural progression, or those nasty APD charges kicking in?

both.
There are changes to APD coming (no APD for under 12's, removal of band C and D). Maybe that will make a difference.

 

[markis10]

I don't understand how ATL has more pax then ORD, DFW or LAX. Yes, it's a "fortress hub" for DL, but DFW, DEN, PHL, CLT and IAH are also "fortress hubs" and LAX, ORD and JFK are large hubs for multiple airlines.

Must be a coke thing , they are ahead by almost 20 million or 45% more than second place, so its not even close.

 

[serfty]

I don't understand how ATL has more pax then ORD, DFW or LAX. Yes, it's a "fortress hub" for DL, but DFW, DEN, PHL, CLT and IAH are also "fortress hubs" and LAX, ORD and JFK are large hubs for multiple airlines.

Size & Capacity.

ATL is BIG! It has 207 gates for aircraft. For DL there are no less than 9 Skyclubs.

LAX is limited to 163 gates and that limit is to decrease, DFW has 165 and ORD comes nearest to ATL of the three with 182.

 

[dajop]

I don't understand how ATL has more pax then ORD, DFW or LAX. Yes, it's a "fortress hub" for DL, but DFW, DEN, PHL, CLT and IAH are also "fortress hubs" and LAX, ORD and JFK are large hubs for multiple airlines.

Aside from being huge hub for DL, don't forget for origin/destination traffic, that it's the only major airport serving Atlanta metro area, unlike Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, New York, etc.

 

[notzac]

ATL is also one of the most well-organised airports in the US ... miles ahead of LAX or ORD, for example

 

[smit0847]

I don't understand how ATL has more pax then ORD, DFW or LAX. Yes, it's a "fortress hub" for DL, but DFW, DEN, PHL, CLT and IAH are also "fortress hubs" and LAX, ORD and JFK are large hubs for multiple airlines.

It's the biggest hub for one of the biggest airlines in the world. The other legacies spread their hubs out more. I was amazed to see Uniteds route map for how many flights they have out of DEN

 

[Pushka]

I think we "flew" half way to Venice from DBX on a bus. The terminal is huge. Have been to Atlanta but nothing like this.