- Incheon International Airport has overtaken London Heathrow to claim the top spot for international passenger traffic in the first half of 2026, welcoming 38.39 million passengers between January and June.
- London Heathrow follows closely behind with 37.79 million international passengers between January and June, having held the top position last year.
- Singapore Changi takes the third spot after recording 34.53 million international passengers in the first half of the year.
- Airports Council International (ACI) released preliminary figures showing the shifting international travel patterns in 2026, with final data expected next month.
- Dubai International Airport topped the world's international passenger rankings last year but has slipped out of the latest top five amid a sharp drop in traffic.
- In February 2026, Dubai handled 7.4 million international passengers, but this number fell to 2.5 million in March following the start of the Iran conflict.
- By June 2026, Dubai's traffic recovered to around 4.7 million but remained below pre-war levels.
Incheon International Airport has claimed the title of the world's busiest international airport in the first half of 2026, handling 38.39 million passengers. This marks a significant shift in global travel patterns, as London Heathrow follows closely with 37.79 million passengers, down from its previous top position.123
The rise of Incheon is attributed to disruptions in Middle Eastern travel, which have reshaped traffic between Europe and Asia. Singapore Changi ranks third with 34.53 million passengers, maintaining its status as a major international hub.4
Other notable airports include Amsterdam's Schiphol with 32.68 million and Hong Kong International at 32.61 million. Meanwhile, Dubai International Airport, which was the top airport last year, has seen a significant drop in traffic due to the ongoing Iran conflict, with numbers falling from 7.4 million in February to 2.5 million in March before recovering to 4.7 million in June.78910
The data, released by Airports Council International (ACI), is preliminary and subject to final validation, with complete figures expected next month.56
“Dubai, last year's top airport, slipped out of the top five after its international passenger numbers plunged from 7.4 million in February to 2.5 million in March following the start of the Iran conflict, recovering to only 4.7 million by June. ACI notes the figures are preliminary, with final data expected next month.”
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