Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport is set to be overtaken as the world's busiest airport in terms of passenger numbers some time in 2021 if current growth rates continue.
Yet the airport that takes the crown may not be the one you think.
According to airport body ACI, Atlanta handled 101.5 million passengers (enplaned and deplaned) in 2015, up 5.5% on the previous year. Beijing was the second busiest, handling 89.9 million during the year, an increase of 4.4% on 2014. Dubai came in at number three after handling 78.0m passengers during the year. The Middle Eastern airport hub, home to Emirates, handled 10.7m more than the previous year.
Everyone expects Dubai to be the airport that takes the crown. Dubai is already the biggest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic, handling 77 million passengers in 2015, 7.5 million more than the next biggest, London Heathrow (69.8m passengers), which had long held the number one position for many years. Hong Kong (68.1m), Paris Charles de Gaulle (60.4m) and Amsterdam Schiphol (58.2m) complete the top five positions in the international chart.
However, Dubai is not the airport which will lead the world if current growth rates continue. That accolade will go to Shanghai which at present handles 60m a year. However, if it maintains its current growth rate of 16.7%, it will overtake all the others in the same year as Dubai overtakes Atlanta.
The world's traffic centre is certainly shifting eastwards but further eastwards than many thought.