Dubai International Airport has emerged as the world's busiest airport for the first quarter of 2025, according to Cirium Diio data. The airport recorded 15.1 million departing seats, surpassing Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport by 2%. This marks a significant achievement for Dubai, which leads in international capacity while Atlanta remains dominant in domestic seats.
James Pearson noted that "combined with Dubai's 2% year-on-year flight increase, it is no wonder the UAE airport is ranked first in those three months." However, he also pointed out that this position might be temporary as "Atlanta will regain the throne from Q2 onward," due to its seasonal capacity increase.
Dubai's rise can be attributed to Emirates' extensive A380 fleet and a 5.4% increase in available seats resulting from a 13.2% rise in flights. In contrast, Atlanta experienced a reduction in regional jet use and a slight decrease in available seats compared to pre-pandemic levels.