South Korea’s Incheon airport beats Heathrow to become world’s busiest
South Korea's Incheon has become the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic for the first time, new figures show.
Incheon International Airport, located in South Korea, has claimed the title of the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic, surpassing London Heathrow Airport for the first time. According to preliminary data from the Airports Council International, Incheon welcomed 38.4 million international passengers during the first six months of this year. London Heathrow Airport followed closely behind with 37.79 million passengers, while Singapore's Changi Airport recorded 34.53 million passengers.
Incheon's ascent to the top spot can be attributed to several factors. One significant contributor was the diversion of passengers away from Middle Eastern aviation hubs due to the conflict between the United States and Iran. This shift in travel patterns helped Incheon gain a competitive edge. Additionally, Dubai International Airport, which had held the second position both in 2024 and 2025 based on full-year statistics, is now projected to fall outside the top five this year.
The rise of Incheon can also be attributed to a shift in passenger routes. Some travelers who would have previously transited through Dubai on their way to Europe are now opting for Incheon as their preferred hub. This change has led to an 18% increase in transfer passengers, with 210,000 passengers traveling through Incheon and making their final destinations in Europe.
The corporation responsible for Incheon Airport attributes this growth to enhanced infrastructure, which has allowed the airport to handle a larger passenger volume.
Incheon Airport, which opened its doors in 2001, currently serves 158 international destinations. This is more than Hong Kong's International Airport, which serves 139 destinations, Shanghai's Pudong Airport, which serves 92 destinations, and Tokyo's Narita Airport, which serves 86 destinations. The Incheon Airport Corporation's acting president, Kim Beom-ho, expressed gratitude for the support of the South Korean government, the encouragement of the public, and the hard work of everyone at the airport in achieving this milestone.
Kim added that the corporation plans to further strengthen its competitiveness by focusing on improving passenger convenience.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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