Incheon handled 38.39 million international passengers in the first half of 2026, moving ahead of Heathrow and Changi in preliminary ACI data.
Incheon International Airport in South Korea ranked as the world's busiest for international passengers in the first half of 2026, handling 38.39 million people.
The top five busiest international airports also include London Heathrow (2nd), Singapore Changi (3rd), Paris Charles de Gaulle (4th), and Amsterdam Schiphol (5th).
Incheon's rise to the top spot was driven by an increase in transfer passengers avoiding Middle Eastern hubs and a surge in visitors from China and Japan.
Dubai International Airport, a long-time leader, is expected to fall out of the top five due to regional tensions disrupting flights.
Incheon International Airport became the world’s busiest airport for international passengers in the first half of 2026, moving ahead of London Heathrow and Singapore Changi, according to preliminary data compiled by Airports Council International (ACI).
The South Korean gateway handled 38.39 million international passengers during the six-month period. Heathrow ranked second with 37.79 million, followed by Changi with 34.53 million.
The data were compiled from approximately 1,234 airports worldwide. The figures remain preliminary and are subject to final validation by ACI.
Five leading international passenger airports
The ranking cited in the source placed the airports in the following order:
Incheon International Airport, South Korea: 38.39 million international passengers
London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom: 37.79 million
Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore: 34.53 million
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, France: Passenger total not provided in the source
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Netherlands: Passenger total not provided in the source
The top position marked a rapid rise for Incheon, which opened in 2001. It moved from 10th place in 2002 to fifth in 2018 and third in 2024 before reaching the top of the half-year ranking.
Passenger flows shift towards East Asia
Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) attributed the increase partly to changes in international travel patterns caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Disruption to connecting flights through Middle Eastern hubs prompted some passengers travelling between Asia and Europe to use alternative routes through East Asia.
The number of transfer passengers using Incheon rose by 18.1% from the same period last year to 4.24 million. Transfer traffic involving European routes increased by 63.2%.
Dubai International Airport, which had consistently ranked among the world’s leading international hubs, was expected to finish outside the top five after regional tensions disrupted flight operations and travel demand.
Incheon also benefited from a rise in the number of international visitors entering South Korea, particularly travellers from China and Japan.
Foreign nationals represented a record 44.4% of passengers using the airport in the second quarter of 2026, up from 39.5% during the same period last year.
The combination of inbound tourism and transfer traffic helped Incheon surpass established hubs despite the relatively narrow gap between the South Korean airport and Heathrow.
Expansion raises annual capacity to 106 million
Four phases of expansion at Incheon were completed in November 2024, raising the airport’s annual international passenger capacity to 106 million.
IIAC said this represented the world’s third-largest international passenger capacity, behind Hong Kong International Airport and Dubai International Airport.
Incheon is currently connected to 183 cities in 53 countries by 101 airlines. Its network is broader than the 139 cities served from Hong Kong, 92 from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and 86 from Narita International Airport.
IIAC said the airport had passed one billion cumulative passengers approximately 25 years after opening, reaching the milestone faster than other major international airports.
The corporation also said Incheon had received the highest service-quality ranking for the 12th consecutive year, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading aviation hubs.
Incheon invests in future aviation systems
IIAC is investing in artificial intelligence infrastructure and urban air mobility systems as South Korea works towards its goal of attracting 30 million international visitors.
Kim Beom-ho, acting president of IIAC, credited the achievement to government support, public encouragement and the dedication of airport personnel.
“This achievement was made possible by the government’s support, the public’s encouragement and the hard work of everyone stationed at the airport,” Kim said.
He added that IIAC would continue strengthening its core operations and expanding regional connections to support the growth of South Korea’s aviation industry.
