Hong Kong maintained its position as the world's leading airport in air cargo throughput in 2025, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) World. The airport handled 128.9 million metric tonnes of freight, representing a 2.9% increase from the previous year, despite industry-wide capacity limits and geopolitical challenges.
The global aviation sector displayed steady growth across all metrics, with passenger numbers rising to nearly 9.8 billion, reflecting a 3.6% increase from 2024. The Asia-Pacific region contributed significantly to this rebound, driven by China's reopening and easing of visa restrictions. The major airports by passenger volume continued to be Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Dubai International, and Tokyo Haneda, with Dubai leading in international passenger traffic.
Overall Industry Trends
The report from ACI emphasized that aircraft movements reached 101.5 million globally, an increase of 2.3%. Major hubs such as Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta, and Dallas/Fort Worth experienced the largest activity growth. The U.S. accounts for a large share of domestic flights, with four of the top 10 passenger airports located within the country.
Growth factors included a 3.0% to 3.2% rise in global gross domestic product, coupled with a 13% year-on-year drop in jet fuel prices. These macroeconomic conditions, along with increased purchasing power and eased inflation, supported the ongoing recovery. Notably, the Asia-Pacific market saw Shanghai Pudong rise from 10th to 5th place among airports, with Guangzhou Baiyun returning to the top ten ranking.
The comprehensive traffic data was derived from reports from more than 2,700 airports worldwide, with final rankings expected to be published in July 2026.
