Incheon becomes world’s busiest airport for international passengers

International

South Korean hub handled 38.39 million international travellers in the first half of 2026, overtaking London Heathrow and Singapore Changi

Incheon International Airport has become the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic, taking the top position for the first time since it opened in 2001. The South Korean hub handled 38.39 million international passengers between January and June 2026.

Traffic increased by 6.3 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to figures from Incheon International Airport Corp. Preliminary Airports Council International data covering 1,234 airports put Incheon ahead of two of the world's largest international hubs.

Heathrow and Changi move behind Incheon

London Heathrow recorded 37.79 million international passengers during the first six months of the year, around 600,000 fewer than Incheon. Singapore Changi Airport followed with 34.53 million.

The result marks another step in Incheon's steady rise through the international airport rankings. The airport was ranked tenth in 2002 and had climbed to fifth place by 2018.

In 2024, Incheon ranked third after handling 70.67 million international passengers. Its performance during the first half of 2026 has now taken the South Korean airport to the top of the international passenger table.

Transfer traffic rises by 18 per cent

Connecting passengers contributed strongly to the growth. Incheon handled 4.24 million transfer passengers during the first six months of 2026, an increase of 18.1 per cent year on year.

The rise was particularly pronounced on European routes. Transfer traffic involving European services surged by 63.2 per cent to around 210,000 passengers.

Officials at Incheon International Airport Corp. said changing global aviation patterns may have contributed to the increase. Weaker transfer operations at major Middle Eastern hubs amid the US-Iran war could have diverted some Europe-bound connecting traffic through South Korea.

Foreign travellers reach record share

Incheon's passenger mix is changing as well. Foreign travellers accounted for a record 44.4 per cent of all passengers passing through the airport during the second quarter of 2026.

The figures underline Incheon's growing role not only as South Korea's principal international gateway but also as a major transfer hub between Asia, Europe and other international markets.