A New Airport Just Broke Into America’s 10 Busiest

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Every year, millions upon millions of passengers pass through America’s airports, but some handle far more travelers than others.

To track those numbers, Airports Council International–North America (ACI-NA) publishes annual rankings of the busiest airports in the U.S. and Canada. The organization, which has represented the commercial airports of both countries since 1948, is best known for compiling the passenger traffic, cargo volume and aircraft movement statistics that are widely considered the industry’s benchmark.

The passenger rankings are the ones most often cited when people talk about “America’s busiest airports.” While the order often changes from year to year, this year’s rankings include one notable change to the Top 10.

San Francisco International Airport has entered the list, replacing Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Passenger volume: 2024 vs. 2025

In 2024, the Top 10 airports were:

In 2025, Charlotte Douglas International Airport has dropped off the list entirely, leaving space for San Francisco International Airport to enter the Top 10 for 2025:

Cargo volume by the numbers

Passengers are one metric but cargo is quite another. It encompasses freight + mail, including express, loaded and unloaded (arriving or departing) at the airport. Freight comprises goods, newspapers, diplomatic bags, parcel post and express parcel.

After rising 2.8 percent in 2024, overall air cargo traffic fell 0.3 percent in 2025, as a 7.6 percent decline in domestic freight outweighed steady growth in international freight, which increased 3.5 percent over 2024.

Some other key findings:

• Passenger traffic declined slightly in 2025, falling 0.7 percent from 2024. While international passenger traffic grew 0.3 percent, domestic passenger volumes fell 1.0 percent.
• Despite a 1.6 percent decrease from 2024, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport remained the busiest airport in North America and the world in 2025 with 106.3 million passengers.
• Toronto Pearson International Airport is once again Canada’s most traveled airport with 47.2 million passengers, an increase of 1.0 percent from 2024.
• Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport surpassed Memphis International Airport as North America’s busiest cargo airport in 2025, handling 3.9 million metric tons, an increase of 4.2 percent from 2024.

While the rankings don’t change dramatically from year to year, even small shifts can say a lot about changing travel patterns and the health of the aviation industry.

Atlanta continues to hold onto its long-standing title as North America’ (and the world’s) busiest airport, while San Francisco’s return to the passenger Top 10 shows that demand continues to evolve as airlines adjust routes and travelers return to favorite destinations.

It’ll be interesting to see whether SFO can hold onto its new spot next year, or if another airport will make a run at the Top 10.

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary