Sharad RanabhatChicago O’Hare International has been the world’s most connected airport in 2022. Here’s the breakdown of the world’s top 10 global hubs and most connected airports by region.
Top 10 International Airport Megahubs
*Note that data was gathered on the busiest day between September 2021 and August 2022.
Chicago O’Hare International (ORD) is the world’s most connected airport for 2022, ending London Heathrow’s reign, which was the most connected airport before the COVID-19 pandemic. Heathrow Airport was crowned the most connected airport for three consecutive years from 2017-2019 before the pandemic.
On the busiest day at Chicago’s O’Hare, there were 43,350 possible connections within a six-hour window this year, compared to 65,294 in 2019. It served 66 international destinations in August 2022. Back in 2019, Chicago O’Hare led North America in connectivity for the fourth consecutive year and was the third most internationally connected airport in the world.
Following the ease in travel restrictions for those returning to the United States from abroad, the US airports have benefited significantly, securing 9 of the Top 10 spots. The highest ranked non-US Airport, Mexico City Airport made it to the top 10 as Mexico kept its borders open through the pandemic and air services have almost recovered to pre-covid levels.
| Rank | Airport | Country | Rank in 2019 | Dominant Carrier | Share of Flights |
| 1 | Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | USA | 3 | United Airlines | 46% |
| 2 | Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW) | USA | 19 | American Airlines | 85% |
| 3 | Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) | USA | 8 | Delta Airlines | 77% |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) | USA | 37 | Alaska Airlines | 55% |
| 5 | Denver (DEN) | USA | 80 | United Airlines | 52% |
| 6 | Los Angeles (LAX) | USA | 13 | Delta Airlines | 20% |
| 7 | New York-JFK (JFK) | USA | 18 | Delta Airlines | 34% |
| 8 | Mexico City (MEX) | Mexico | 15 | Aeromexico | 53% |
| 9 | Houston (IAH) | USA | 21 | United Airlines | 76% |
| 10 | Miami (MIA) | USA | 20 | American Airlines | 67% |
Europe
London Heathrow (LHR) has been ranked at a record-low 22nd position globally, down from its #1 ranking in 2019. While Heathrow has maintained almost the same number of destinations served as it had in 2019, the number of possible connections on the busiest day has fallen by almost 40% after the reduction in flights amid multiple factors including passenger cap. Reduction in capacity has particularly affected high-frequency short-haul routes.
Unsurprisingly, Heathrow ranked as the most connected European Airport followed by Istanbul Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Frankfurt Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol completed the Top 5 European airports.
Asia-Pacific Region
While no airports in Asia-Pacific cracked the top ten, a total of four made it into the top 20, which are listed below:
- Indira Gandhi International Airport (13th)
- Haneda Airport (14th)
- Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (16th)
- Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (20th)
Singapore Changi Airport ranked 12th in the Asia-Pacific region, which was in first place in the region in 2019. However, Hong Kong did not make it into the Top 50. By contrast, it was in second place in the region in 2019.
Middle East & Africa
Dubai International Airport (DXB) retained its position as the most connected airport in the Middle East & Africa. Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport and Qatar’s Hamad International Airport ranked in the second and third position respectively.
However, Johannesburg Airport has slipped out of the rankings, which was in second place in 2019.
Latin America
Among all other regions, the most consistent were the Latin American Airports with no change in ranking among the top three airports.
Mexico City Airport remains the top-ranked airport in Latin America followed by Colombia’s Bogota Airport and Brazil’s São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport.
Top 10 Low-Cost Carrier Airport Megahubs
Even though the United States has the largest domestic aviation market in the world, the dominant presence of IndiGo in India has propelled Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) to 1st and 2nd place in 2022. Back in 2019, Delhi was ranked 6th whereas BOM was ranked 11th.
Denver International Airport (DEN) ranked 3rd this year, mainly boosted by the strong presence of Southwest Airlines. Alongside, Frontier Airlines also operates out of Denver. Ranked 4th and 5th were Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) respectively, thanks to the strong presence of Southwest Airlines.
| Rank | Airport | Country | Rank in 2019 | Dominant Carrier | Share of Flights |
| 1 | Delhi (DEL) | India | 6 | IndiGo | 34% |
| 2 | Mumbai (BOM) | India | 11 | IndiGo | 37% |
| 3 | Denver (DEN) | USA | 55 | United Airlines | 52% |
| 4 | Las Vegas (LAS) | USA | 54 | Southwest Airlines | 38% |
| 5 | Orlando (MCO) | USA | 15 | Southwest Airlines | 22% |
| 6 | Jakarta (CGK) | Indonesia | 8 | Lion Air | 30% |
| 7 | Manila (MNL) | Philippines | 2 | Cebu Pacific Air | 37% |
| 8 | Mexico City (MEX) | Mexico | 9 | Aeromexico | 53% |
| 9 | Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | USA | 13 | Spirit Airlines | 27% |
| 10 | Istanbul Sabiha (SAW) | Turkey | 16 | Pegasus Airlines | 66% |
Kuala Lumpur International Airport ranked 20th in the LCC airport Megahubs, which was in first place in 2019, whereas Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport ranked 7th slipping down from 2nd position in 2019. Singapore Changi Airport did not make it into the Top 25. By contrast, it was in third place in 2019.
The highest-ranked LCC airport Megahub in Europe is Istanbul Sabiha Gocken Airport (SAW) ranked 10th place, where Pegasus Airlines has the dominant share of airline capacity.
Data Source: OAG