London’s Heathrow Airport ranked second, with 37.79 million international passengers, followed by Singapore’s Changi Airport, which handled 34.53 million.
Incheon Airport authorities said the increase in passenger numbers was partly driven by travellers changing their routes and avoiding major airports in the Middle East due to the conflict between the United States and Iran.
Dubai International Airport, which ranked second in 2024 and 2025 based on full-year figures, is not expected to be among the world’s top five airports this year.
Heathrow ranked fifth in 2024 and seventh in 2025, while Incheon ranked 12th and 13th in those respective years.
Incheon Airport authorities said some passengers who previously travelled through Dubai to Europe are now choosing to transit through Incheon. As a result, the number of transfer passengers at the airport increased by 18% compared with the same period last year.
The number of passengers transferring at Incheon to flights bound for Europe increased by 63.2%, reaching 210,000.
Airport authorities also attributed the growth to the expansion of Incheon’s infrastructure, which has enabled it to accommodate more passengers. Opened in 2001, Incheon currently connects international flights to 158 destinations.
By comparison, Hong Kong International Airport serves 139 destinations, Shanghai Pudong International Airport connects to 92 destinations, while Tokyo’s Narita International Airport serves 86 destinations.
Kim Beom-ho, acting president and CEO of the company operating Incheon International Airport, attributed the achievement to support from the South Korean Government, the public and the dedication of airport employees.
“We are grateful for the support of the Government, the encouragement of the public and the dedication of everyone working at the airport, all of which contributed to making Incheon the world’s number one airport,” Kim said.
Kim added that the airport plans to further strengthen its competitiveness internationally, with a focus on making it easier for passengers to access high-quality services.
