Air travelers might be surprised to learn that topping the list of the world’s busiest airports isn’t ever-expanding London Heathrow, major Middle East hub, Dubai, or even Beijing, serving the capital of the largest country in the world. Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport took the top spot this year claiming the largest number of passenger traffic over Beijing. The announcement should come as no surprise to airline watchers, as this is the 12th consecutive year Atlanta has topped the list. According to data by Airports Council International, the provider of the annual traffic report, the biggest growth in passenger traffic has occurred in the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America-Caribbean, and Africa with growth rates of more than 5 percent compared to last year’s data. In comparison, Europe and North America’s passenger traffic grew by just over 1 percent. Rounding out the top five is London, Tokyo, and Chicago airports. The Airports Council International collects the data from 1,598 commercial airports from 159 countries.

1. Atlanta, U.S.A.
2. Beijing, CHINA
3. London, U.K.
4. Tokyo, JAPAN
5. Chicago, U.S.A.
6. Los Angeles, U.S.A.
7. Paris, FRANCE
8. Dallas/Fort Worth, U.S.A.
9. Jakarta, INDONESIA
10. Dubai, U.A.E.
11. Frankfurt, GERMANY
12. Hong Kong, CHINA
13. Denver, U.S.A.
14. Bangkok, THAILAND
15. Singapore, SINGAPORE
16. Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS
17. New York, U.S.A.
18. Guangzhou, CHINA
19. Madrid, SPAIN
20. Istanbul, TURKEY
21. Shanghai, CHINA
22. San Francisco, U.S.A.
23. Charlotte, U.S.A.
24. Las Vegas, U.S.A.
25. Phoenix, U.S.A.

For more information, visit Airports International Council