Can You Believe That Denver’s Airport is One of the Busiest in the World?

When you think of busy airports, Denver International Airport isn't one of the first you think of. Sure, the airport is big and it is busy, but there have to be dozens of other international airports that see more traffic in and out of their concourses, right?

Not quite. When you think of bustling airports, you would tend to think of ones like Los Angeles International Airport, O'Hare in Chicago, Heathrow Airport in London, England, and Charles de Gaulle in Paris, France. While all of these airports certainly are busy, only one is busier than Denver International Airport, and only by a small percentage.

READ: DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SETS MAJOR RECORDS IN 2024

In 2024, Denver International Airport saw more than 82 million travelers, making it one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world. Colorado's biggest airport shows no sign of slowing down when it comes to moving travelers around the globe in 2025. According to Airports Council International, global passenger traffic is expected to grow 4.8 percent year over year.

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Meaning Denver's airport could see nearly four million more passengers than it did last year if those numbers hold to the projected growth. Overall, Denver International Airport ranked as the sixth busiest airport in the world, beating out Shanghai, China, New Delhi, India, Chicago, Illinois, and Istanbul, Turkey.

READ MORE: DENVER'S AIRPORT RANKED ONE OF THE WORST FOR TURBULENCE

In 2024, these airports were busier than Denver International Airport:

• London, England (LHR) - 83 million travelers
• Tokyo, Japan (HND) - 85 million travelers
• Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (DFW) - 87 million travelers
• Dubai, UAE (DXB) - 92 million travelers
• Atlanta, Georgia (ATL) - 108 million travelers

See the full list of the world's busiest airports and how Denver International Airport stacks up against other locations across the globe, visit aci.aero.