Incheon Airport Becomes World’s Busiest Airport for Passenger Traffic

Incheon International Airport in South Korea has become the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic for the first time, according to preliminary figures from the Airports Council International (ACI).

The airport handled 38.4 million international passengers during the first six months of 2026, placing it ahead of London Heathrow Airport, which recorded 37.79 million passengers. Singapore’s Changi Airport ranked third with 34.53 million.

Incheon’s rise has been partly attributed to changes in global air travel patterns following the conflict between the United States and Iran, which diverted some passengers away from major Middle Eastern aviation hubs.

The airport corporation said the number of transfer passengers increased by 18% compared with the same period last year. Transfers by passengers travelling to Europe rose particularly sharply, with the number reaching 210,000 — an increase of 63.2%.

Dubai International Airport, which ranked second globally in both 2024 and 2025 based on full-year figures, is expected to drop outside the top five in the latest rankings.

Incheon has also benefited from continued infrastructure development and its extensive international network. The airport, which opened in 2001, currently serves 158 international destinations, compared with 139 from Hong Kong International Airport, 92 from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and 86 from Tokyo Narita Airport.

Incheon Airport Corporation Acting President Kim Beom-ho credited government support, public encouragement and airport employees for the achievement, saying the corporation would continue strengthening its competitiveness with a focus on passenger convenience.

The milestone marks a dramatic rise for Incheon, which ranked 12th in 2024 and 13th in 2025, highlighting the airport’s growing importance as a major global aviation hub.