The World’s Busiest Airports: Kiplinger Economic Forecasts
Find out how U.S. airports are faring and the outlook post-COVID-19
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Today
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more delivered daily. Smart money moves start here.
Sent five days a week
Kiplinger A Step Ahead
Get practical help to make better financial decisions in your everyday life, from spending to savings on top deals.
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Closing Bell
Get today's biggest financial and investing headlines delivered to your inbox every day the U.S. stock market is open.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Adviser Intel
Financial pros across the country share best practices and fresh tactics to preserve and grow your wealth.
Delivered weekly
Kiplinger Tax Tips
Trim your federal and state tax bills with practical tax-planning and tax-cutting strategies.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Retirement Tips
Your twice-a-week guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirement
Sent bimonthly.
Kiplinger Adviser Angle
Insights for advisers, wealth managers and other financial professionals.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Investing Weekly
Your twice-a-week roundup of promising stocks, funds, companies and industries you should consider, ones you should avoid, and why.
Sent weekly for six weeks
Kiplinger Invest for Retirement
Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose.
The aviation industry is a cornerstone of the economy not just because of its size but because its performance has an impact across the supply chain and can impact the economy via the tourism sector.
To help you understand this sector, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will update you on major developments (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). Here’s the latest forecast…
Five of the world’s top 10 busiest airports last year were still in the U.S., a drop from 2021 when domestic airports claimed eight of the top 10 spots.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport once again reigned supreme, for the second straight year, with passenger volume of about 93.7 million people.
The rest in descending order were: Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Chicago’s O’Hare, Dubai, Los Angeles, Istanbul, London Heathrow, New Delhi and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Post-COVID-19 travel rebound
U.S. airports dominated the rankings for the past two years as domestic travel rebounded faster than in other regions.
Worldwide travel significantly rose last year. Expect most of the world’s busiest airports to be back to normal this year, either matching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
Only two top 10 airports, Denver and Istanbul, had more passengers in 2022 than in 2019. But 2023 demand is strong...
Airplane supply may be limited
Meanwhile, quality problems have forced Boeing (BA) to halt deliveries of some jets. The issue will leave airlines with roughly 9,000 fewer seats than planned during a summer travel season when U.S. passenger volumes may set a record.
The 9,000-seat figure suggests dozens of planes will be affected. In the U.S., United (UAL) and Southwest Airlines (LUV) are the two biggest buyers of Boeing’s 737 Max, though certain variants of the narrow-body jet, such as the 9, won’t be affected.
Less clear is whether Boeing will be able to deliver 400 737 MAX jets in 2023, which is its goal. The planemaker has delivered 113 through this year’s first quarter.
This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter. Since 1925, the Letter has helped millions of business executives and investors profit by providing reliable forecasts on business and the economy, as well as what to expect from Washington. Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Sean Lengell covers Congress and government policy for The Kiplinger Letter. Before joining Kiplinger in January 2017 he served as a congressional reporter for eight years with the Washington Examiner and the Washington Times. He previously covered local news for the Tampa (Fla.) Tribune. A native of northern Illinois who spent much of his youth in St. Petersburg, Fla., he holds a bachelor's degree in English from Marquette University.
-
Dow Leads in Mixed Session on Amgen Earnings: Stock Market TodayThe rest of Wall Street struggled as Advanced Micro Devices earnings caused a chip-stock sell-off.
-
How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Without OverpayingHere’s how to stream the 2026 Winter Olympics live, including low-cost viewing options, Peacock access and ways to catch your favorite athletes and events from anywhere.
-
Here’s How to Stream the Super Bowl for LessWe'll show you the least expensive ways to stream football's biggest event.
-
The U.S. Economy Will Gain Steam This YearThe Kiplinger Letter The Letter editors review the projected pace of the economy for 2026. Bigger tax refunds and resilient consumers will keep the economy humming in 2026.
-
Trump Reshapes Foreign PolicyThe Kiplinger Letter The President starts the new year by putting allies and adversaries on notice.
-
Congress Set for Busy WinterThe Kiplinger Letter The Letter editors review the bills Congress will decide on this year. The government funding bill is paramount, but other issues vie for lawmakers’ attention.
-
The Kiplinger Letter's 10 Forecasts for 2026The Kiplinger Letter Here are some of the biggest events and trends in economics, politics and tech that will shape the new year.
-
Special Report: The Future of American PoliticsThe Kiplinger Letter The Political Trends and Challenges that Will Define the Next Decade
-
AI Appliances Aren’t Exciting Buyers…YetThe Kiplinger Letter Artificial intelligence is being embedded into all sorts of appliances. Now sellers need to get customers to care about AI-powered laundry.
-
What to Expect from the Global Economy in 2026The Kiplinger Letter Economic growth across the globe will be highly uneven, with some major economies accelerating while others hit the brakes.
-
Shoppers Hit the Brakes on EV Purchases After Tax Credits ExpireThe Letter Electric cars are here to stay, but they'll have to compete harder to get shoppers interested without the federal tax credit.