(CNN) The Airports Council International (ACI), an organization made up of airport managers from around the world, has released its 2023 rankings based on the number of passengers at each airport. As usual, Atlanta International Airport in the US state of Georgia took first place, followed by Dubai Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in second place.
Atlanta Airport has been at the top for over 20 years, with the exception of 2020, when it lost the top spot due to the coronavirus pandemic. The number of passengers in 2023 was 104.7 million. Although this is about 5% lower than in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic, ACI Director-General De Oliveira said the number is expected to recover to about 110 million people this year, the same level as 2019.
This is the first time that Dubai Airport has ranked second. It was ranked 5th in the 2022 edition. The number of passengers in 2023 was approximately 87 million, an increase of 31% from the previous year and 1% increase from 2019. Currently, 102 airlines operate routes between the airport and 262 cities in 104 countries around the world.
Dubai rises to second place in airport passenger rankings/Kamran Jebreili/AP
He said the airline industry is expected to grow more than twice as much in emerging and developing countries in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific as in developed countries over the next few decades.