Guangzhou airport in China has lastly knocked Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta off the highest spot because the world’s busiest airport.
After 22 consecutive years as primary, the US aviation hub fell to second place in 2020.
Guangzhou Baiyun had a meteoric rise because of the pandemic, leaping from eleventh place to high canine.
In truth, China was house to seven of the highest 10 busiest airports final yr, as journey restrictions all over the world dampened demand and left many plane languishing on the tarmac.
No European airports made the highest 10, regardless of London Heathrow and Paris CDG having featured the earlier yr.
Guangzhou welcomed 43.8 million passengers in 2020, down 40 per cent from 2019, whereas Atlanta hosted 42.9 million passengers, dropping 61 per cent year-on-year.
The findings have been primarily based on figures launched by airport commerce organisation Airports Council Worldwide (ACI).
Nonetheless, this dramatic change in fortunes is predicted to be short-term.
“Whereas the business recovers, we count on ATL to retake its spot on the high within the coming years,” mentioned Patrick Lucas, vice chairman for economics at ACI World.
In accordance with the ACI information, passenger visitors fell by almost 65 per cent globally in 2020, whereas the highest 10 busiest airports took a 46 per cent hit.
ACI doesn’t count on visitors to totally get better to pre-pandemic ranges till 2024.
“The information reveals the problem airports proceed to face, and it stays crucial that the business is supported by means of direct help and wise coverage selections from governments to make sure that aviation can endure, rebuild connectivity, and gasoline a world financial restoration,” mentioned ACI world director normal Luis Felipe de Oliveira.
“The findings present that the influence stays uneven with completely different areas experiencing completely different challenges and requiring completely different coverage selections and help from governments to put the muse for restoration.”
Prime 10 busiest airports in 2020
- Guangzhou, China: 43.8 million passengers
- Atlanta, USA: 42.9 million passengers
- Chengdu, China: 40.7 million passengers
- Dallas/Fort Value, USA: 39.4 million passengers
- Shenzhen, China: 37.9 million passengers
- Beijing, China: 34.5 million passengers
- Denver, USA: 33.7 million passengers
- Kunming, China: 33 million passengers
- Shanghai, China: 31.2 million passengers
- Xi’an, China: 31.1 million passengers