October 2025 has marked a significant shift in the global aviation landscape, with Chicago O’Hare International Airport now ranking as the world’s busiest airport. This change in status comes as O’Hare recorded an impressive average of 2,418 daily movements—an increase of 14% compared to the same month last year. O’Hare’s rise has allowed it to overtake Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, which now stands at 2,153 daily movements, reflecting a more modest growth of 1%.
Across the globe, over 3,700 airports are facilitating passenger flights this October, with the ten busiest airports accounting for more than 16,400 daily movements combined. Notably, one in six of all global flights will either depart from or arrive at these major hubs. While the dominance of U.S. airports is evident, the rankings reveal a shift as Istanbul Airport enters the top ten, replacing Tokyo Haneda, which has fallen from grace.
Key Rankings of the World’s Busiest Airports
The latest data reveals the following rankings for the ten busiest airports in October 2025, alongside their respective daily movements and changes compared to the previous year:
1. Chicago O’Hare: 2,418 (+14%)
2. Atlanta: 2,153 (+1%)
3. Dallas/Fort Worth: 1,985 (-2%)
4. Denver: 1,898 (+3%)
5. Guangzhou: 1,514 (+11%)
6. Istanbul Airport: 1,474 (+15%)
7. Shanghai Pudong: 1,468 (+7%)
8. Charlotte: 1,426 (-8%)
9. Los Angeles International: 1,393 (-2%)
10. London Heathrow: 1,339 (0%)
This ranking indicates a notable trend towards airports with substantial domestic operations, except for a few international hubs like London Heathrow and Shanghai Pudong.
Factors Behind O’Hare’s Ascendancy
O’Hare’s ascent to the top is attributed to several factors, particularly its role as a major hub for both American Airlines and United Airlines. The airport has consistently led in movements since April 2025, with its daily passenger movements rising from 2,124 in October 2024. The growth is largely driven by American Airlines, which has expanded its flights by a remarkable 25% during this period.
Despite these gains, American’s current operations at O’Hare remain 6% lower than they were in October 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global travel. United Airlines, while still the top operator at O’Hare, has also expanded its presence, increasing flights by 11%. This competitive landscape has led to significant operational shifts, including American Airlines’ recent strategy to add 20 new routes from O’Hare.
The newly added destinations include cities such as Anchorage, Honolulu, and Madrid, showcasing American’s efforts to enhance connectivity from its Illinois hub. This expansion follows a strategic focus on regaining market share and improving service offerings, particularly as the aviation industry continues to rebound from pandemic-related challenges.
As the aviation sector evolves, these statistics reflect not only the recovery of air travel but also the changing dynamics of airport operations globally. The rise of O’Hare and the entry of Istanbul Airport into the top tier highlight the ongoing competition among airports to capture passenger traffic and maintain operational excellence.
