Dubai International Airport has claimed the top spot as the world’s largest airport by seat capacity in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport. A report by Cirium revealed that Dubai Airport recorded 15.1 million seats, edging past Atlanta’s 14.8 million by 2%.

The airport’s growth highlights its role as a key global aviation hub. This achievement was supported by a 2% rise in flights compared to the previous year, driven by the expanding networks of Emirates and flydubai.

Emirates’ significant fleet of 116 Airbus A380 aircraft also played a major role, making Dubai Airport the leader in average seat capacity per flight, with 278 seats on average.

Additionally, the airport introduced 22 new destinations during 2024 and early 2025, including Edinburgh, Bogota, and Lagos, further strengthening its position as a global air transport hub.