International passenger traffic is coming back in a big way, as eight of the top 10 airports globally for aircraft movements were in the U.S. according to a new ACI study.

If you traveled through Atlanta, Dallas, or Denver in the past year, then you first-hand experienced the recovery of the international travel market across the United States.

According to the Airports Council International – North America 2023 North American Airport Traffic Summary, domestic and international travel were up in a major way, with most flyers going through those three airports.

Total Passenger Traffic Increased by Nearly 12% in 2023

In terms of total passenger traffic, airports across North America saw an increase of passenger traffic by 11.9% compared to 2022 levels. International traffic increased a staggering 27.9% form 2022, while domestic traffic only increased by 9.5% during the same period.

Once again, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) was the busiest in the United States, serving over 104 million passengers in 2023 – up 11.7% compared to the previous year. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) saw a similar increase, serving over 81 million passengers in 2022. Denver International Airport (DEN) was up 12.3% with 77.8 million passengers traveling through the airport. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) were ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Across the northern border, Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) was the busiest airport in Canada, serving 44.8 million passengers. The number represents an increase of 25.6% compared to 2022.

In terms of cargo, Memphis International Airport (MEM) – the home airport of FedEx – was the busiest, transporting over 3.9 million metric tons of cargo. Louisville International Airport (SDF), where the UPS Worldport is located, ranked third, behind Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC). Miami International Airport (MIA) and Los Angeles International Airport rounded out the top five.

“2023 was a pivotal year for the airport industry as we continued our impressive rebound from the global pandemic,” ACI-NA president and CEO Kevin M. Burke said in a press release. “With a significant increase in both international and domestic passenger traffic last year and the record-breaking travel we are already seeing for 2024, our member airports continue to meet the growing demands by enhancing and expanding their facilities and implementing new technologies to elevate the overall passenger experience.”

Feature image courtesy: Rocker Sta on Unsplash