Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport was ranked 10th globally in 2023 serving over 72.2 million passengers, a steady year-on-year growth of 20.36%.
The ranking was by the Airports Council International (ACI) World, an international organisation that evaluates airport standards.
Delhi airport’s position signifies its status as a prominent international hub and its significant contribution to global connectivity. However, its ranking dipped slightly in 2023 – it was at the 9th spot in 2022. Chicago O’Hare Airport was at 9th spot in 2023.
ACI’s recent release on the world’s busiest airports for 2023 shows a resurgence in international air travel. In fact global air travel in 2023 was mainly fueled by the international segment, due to several factors.
Global air travel
This revival is evident in the rankings. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport maintained its status as the busiest airport globally. Dubai International Airport made a significant jump to the second position, crossing Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, now ranked third.
Despite not retaining its 2022 position, Delhi airport maintained a formidable presence within the top 10 busiest airports, according to experts. Delhi airport’s handling of over 72.2 million passengers in 2023 signifies a robust recovery within India’s aviation sector.
Overall, global aviation trends depict an industry getting closer to pre-pandemic levels. Passenger traffic surged to nearly 8.5 billion in 2023, marking a 27.2% increase from 2022 and a huge 93.8% recovery from pre-pandemic levels (2019).
ACI’s ranking system, which studies data from over 2,600 airports globally, offers insights on airport performance and the demand for travel.
Also Read: Food, Faith and Fascism in New India
