Changi stalls as 4th busiest international airport as rivals block podium

The city-state's primary aviation hub matched its pre-pandemic volume last year.

Singapore Changi Airport retained its ranking as the fourth busiest international airport in 2025, offering over 42 million seats.

According to travel data platform OAG’s World's Busiest Airports of 2025, the airport recorded 42.6 million seats, a 3% year-on-year increase, bringing capacity back in line with 2019 levels.

The Dubai International Airport topped the list of the world’s busiest international airports last year, with 62.4 million international seats, maintaining its long-standing lead from 2024, 2023 and 2019.

Landing second place is the London Heathrow Airport, with 49.0 million international seats, a 1% increase compared to 2024 and 4% above 2019 levels.

Seoul Incheon International Airport held onto its third position with 43.0 million seats, a 3% increase compared to 2024 and now 2% above 2019 levels, signalling a full recovery in international travel at the airport.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong International Airport landed eighth place, recording the largest year-on-year increase in the top ten, growing by 12% up to 38.7 million seats in 202. However, the airport remains 14% below 2019 capacity levels.

Also recording strong growth is the Istanbul Airport, reaching 41.2 million international seats, a 7% increase from 2024. This saw the largest growth compared to 2019, up 27%.

Ranking ninth and tenth are the Frankfurt and Doha airports, with 36.4 million seats and 32.7 million seats, respectively.