<strong>The world's busiest airports: </strong>While airline passengers might wish for less crowded airports, cities love to brag about their booming airports and the impact of flight on the local economy. Denver International Airport in the US was the 20th busiest in the world last year for passenger traffic, with more than 61 million passengers. That's according to 2017 data from Airports Council International.
The world's busiest airports: While airline passengers might wish for less crowded airports, cities love to brag about their booming airports and the impact of flight on the local economy. Denver International Airport in the US was the 20th busiest in the world last year for passenger traffic, with more than 61 million passengers. That's according to 2017 data from Airports Council International.
John Moore/Getty Images
<strong>Incheon International Airport, South Korea: </strong>South Korea's largest airport welcomed more than 62 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 7.5%.
Incheon International Airport, South Korea: South Korea's largest airport welcomed more than 62 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 7.5%.
courtesy Korean Air
<strong>18. Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore: </strong>Changi is regularly voted the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcnn.com%2Ftravel%2Farticle%2Fsingapore-changi-airport%2Findex.html">best airport in the world</a>. More than 62 million passengers got to experience it last year, an increase of 6%.
18. Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore: Changi is regularly voted the best airport in the world. More than 62 million passengers got to experience it last year, an increase of 6%.
Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop/CNN
<strong>17. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia:</strong> Last year 63 million passengers visited this Jakarta airport, an increase of 8.3% on 2016.
17. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia: Last year 63 million passengers visited this Jakarta airport, an increase of 8.3% on 2016.
AFP/Getty Images
<strong>16. Indira Gandhi International Airport, India:</strong> Don't let this picture of an empty Terminal 3 fool you. This Indian airport welcomed 63.5 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 14%.
16. Indira Gandhi International Airport, India: Don't let this picture of an empty Terminal 3 fool you. This Indian airport welcomed 63.5 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 14%.
Courtesy David Brossard/Creative Commons/Flickr
<strong>15. Atatürk International Airport, Turkey: </strong>The Istanbul airport saw a 6% increase in traffic last year, with nearly 64 million travelers passing through.
15. Atatürk International Airport, Turkey: The Istanbul airport saw a 6% increase in traffic last year, with nearly 64 million travelers passing through.
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>14. Frankfurt Am Main Airport, Germany:</strong> Germany's busiest airport handled 64.5 million passengers in 2017, 6% more than the year before.
14. Frankfurt Am Main Airport, Germany: Germany's busiest airport handled 64.5 million passengers in 2017, 6% more than the year before.
Pixabay
<strong>13. Guangzhou Bai Yun International Airport, China:</strong> This airport in southern China saw a huge 10.3% increase in passenger traffic last year, welcoming nearly 66 million travelers.
13. Guangzhou Bai Yun International Airport, China: This airport in southern China saw a huge 10.3% increase in passenger traffic last year, welcoming nearly 66 million travelers.
STR/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>12. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, United States:</strong> The fourth-busiest airport in the US, Dallas/Fort Worth flew 67 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 2.3%.
12. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, United States: The fourth-busiest airport in the US, Dallas/Fort Worth flew 67 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 2.3%.
From DFW International Airport
<strong>11. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Netherlands:</strong> The Dutch airport welcomed 68.5 million passengers in 2017, up nearly 8% from the year before.
11. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Netherlands: The Dutch airport welcomed 68.5 million passengers in 2017, up nearly 8% from the year before.
Peter Dejong/AP
<strong>10. Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle, France: </strong>France's busiest airport had more than 69 million passengers last year, up 5.4% on 2016.
10. Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle, France: France's busiest airport had more than 69 million passengers last year, up 5.4% on 2016.
Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Getty Images
<strong>9. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China: </strong>With more than 70 million passengers in 2017, 6% growth from the previous year, Pudong held onto ninth place.
9. Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China: With more than 70 million passengers in 2017, 6% growth from the previous year, Pudong held onto ninth place.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>8. Hong Kong International Airport, China: </strong>Hong Kong held onto eighth place last year, with nearly 73 million passengers, up 3.4% compared to 2016. <br />
8. Hong Kong International Airport, China: Hong Kong held onto eighth place last year, with nearly 73 million passengers, up 3.4% compared to 2016.
Xaume Olleros/Bloomberg/Getty Images
<strong>7. London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom:</strong> Heathrow's passenger traffic grew 3% to more than 78 million passengers.
7. London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom: Heathrow's passenger traffic grew 3% to more than 78 million passengers.
Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg/Getty Images
<strong>6. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, United States: </strong>Chicago's larger airport had close to 80 million passengers in 2017, growth of 2.4%.
6. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, United States: Chicago's larger airport had close to 80 million passengers in 2017, growth of 2.4%.
George Rose/Getty Images
<strong>5. Los Angeles International Airport, United States:</strong> Southern California's most popular airport flew 84.6 million passengers last year, 4.5% more than in 2016.
5. Los Angeles International Airport, United States: Southern California's most popular airport flew 84.6 million passengers last year, 4.5% more than in 2016.
FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images
<strong>4. Tokyo's Haneda International Airport, Japan:</strong> More than 85 million passengers last year, 6.5% up from 2016, moved Haneda up into fourth place.
4. Tokyo's Haneda International Airport, Japan: More than 85 million passengers last year, 6.5% up from 2016, moved Haneda up into fourth place.
The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images
<strong>3. Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates: </strong>The busiest passenger airport in the Middle East, Dubai hosted more than 88 million passengers in 2017, up more than 5.5% over 2016.
3. Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates: The busiest passenger airport in the Middle East, Dubai hosted more than 88 million passengers in 2017, up more than 5.5% over 2016.
EyesWideOpen/Getty Images
<strong>2. Beijing Capital International Airport, China:</strong><em> </em>With nearly 96 million passengers in 2017,<em> </em>up 1.5% over 2016, Beijing continues to nip at the heels of the No. 1 airport.
2. Beijing Capital International Airport, China: With nearly 96 million passengers in 2017, up 1.5% over 2016, Beijing continues to nip at the heels of the No. 1 airport.
Andy Wong/AP
<strong>And the winner is: </strong>Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in the US state of Georgia, was the busiest passenger airport in the world in 2017. It hosted nearly 104 million passengers last year, down 0.3% on 2016.
And the winner is: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in the US state of Georgia, was the busiest passenger airport in the world in 2017. It hosted nearly 104 million passengers last year, down 0.3% on 2016.
David Goldman/AP