Top busiest airports in the world at Christmas

The Christmas season is in full swing, which means millions of travelers around the world are gearing up to visit family and friends or escaping to far off holiday destinations.

Historically, Christmas has always been one of the busiest seasons for travel, second only to summer. Every year, a massive surge in passenger numbers turns airports into epicenters of both holiday cheer and stress.

That’s why we’ve looked at last year’s data to give you an idea of which airports are the absolute busiest over the holiday season.

Busiest airports in the world at Christmas

Which airports can you expect to be absolutely full of travelers in December? Here are the busiest ones overall.

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, US — 4.3 million passengers

2. Tokyo Haneda Airport, Japan — 3.9 million passengers

3. London Heathrow Airport, UK — 3.5 million passengers

4. Dubai Airport, UAE — 3.4 million passengers

5. Denver International Airport, US — 3.3 million passengers

Atlanta International Airport is by far the busiest in the entire world at Christmas. It’s a primary hub for both domestic and international flights, and serves as the main headquarters for Delta Air Lines, which is also one of the largest airlines on the planet. Its central location means it serves as a major connecting point for flights coming or going to the southeastern states.

Busiest airports in Europe at Christmas

1. London Heathrow Airport, UK — 3.5 million passengers

2. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, France — 2.9 million passengers

3. Madrid-Barajas International Airport, Spain — 2.7 million passengers

4. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Netherlands — 2.7 million passengers

5. Frankfurt am Main Airport, Germany — 2.5 million passengers

Over in Europe, London Heathrow takes the top spot. As a central player in global holiday travel, Heathrow is a hub for major airlines like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and connects Europe with the rest of the world.

Its proximity to the British capital makes it an important connection for Christmas visitors, as well as business travelers finalizing any end-of-year deals with partners.

Busiest airports in North and South America at Christmas

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, US - 4.3 million passengers

2. Denver International Airport, USA — 3.3 million passengers

3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, US — 3.2 million passengers

4. Los Angeles International Airport, US — 2.9 million passengers

5. O'Hare International Airport, US — 2.8 million passengers

Over in the Americas, the busiest is of course Atlanta Airport, followed closely by Denver Airport. Denver is a significant hub for United Airlines and Frontier Airlines, and because it’s positioned near the center of the States, it serves as a key location for connecting domestic flights across the country.

Busiest airports in Asia at Christmas

1. Tokyo Haneda Airport, Japan — 3.9 million passengers

2. Dubai Airport, United Arab Emirates — 3.4 million passengers

3. Istanbul Havalimani Airport,Turkey — 2.7 million passengers

4. Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport,India — 2.3 million passengers

5. Incheon International Airport, S.Korea — 2.2 million passengers.

Though the majority of Asia doesn’t celebrate Christmas, Tokyo Haneda Airport sees a huge uptick in activity due to the fact that Japan is a favorite holiday destination for international travelers. To boot, domestic flights pick up during this time as many local fliers will travel for skiing or hot springs, or return home to prepare for the longer New Year’s holidays.

Most disrupted airports in the world at Christmas

Of course, it’s not just about which airports have the largest volume of passengers — airports that experience heavy disruptions such as flight delays can also lead to holiday stress and chaos.

Here are the top 5 airports that have had massive disruptions over Christmas in the past year:

1. London Heathrow Airport, UK — 1.2 million passengers disrupted

2. Dubai Airport, UAE— 1.1 million passengers disrupted

3. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, France — 1.06 million passengers disrupted

4. Frankfurt am Main Airport, Germany — 1.06 million passengers disrupted

5. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Netherlands — 1.06 million passengers disrupted

London Heathrow takes the top spot for most disruptions, due to the fact that during the holidays, it often ends up operating at max capacity as it's inundated with passengers. Because it’s dealing with such huge volumes of travelers, even minor disruptions, such as weather-related disruptions or maintenance issues, can cascade into significant delays as it lacks the runway capacity to absorb the quantity of delays.

And since it’s a major connecting hub for international flights, it often has to deal with additional flights and passengers when bad weather affects airports in Europe and North America.

Stay calm during the end-of-year rush

So amid all that hustle and bustle to get home for the holidays, remember to stay calm and be patient. Despite having to navigate huge crowds and flight delays, it’s all worth it in the end to spend the holidays with your loved ones.

Have a safe trip, and Happy Holidays from AirHelp!

Did you also know that you can claim compensation for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights from up to 3 years ago? AirHelp is here to help you check if your flight is eligible — it’s quick, easy, and totally risk-free!