This airport became the busiest in the world, all because of the Mideast war

Incheon International Airport in South Korea became the world's busiest airport for international passengers in the first half of 2026, for the first time since its opening in 2001. According to ACI data, 38.39 million international passengers passed through it, ahead of London Heathrow (37.79 million) and Singapore Changi (34.53 million). The reasons: disruptions in Middle East air traffic due to the US-Iran war, which diverted connections from Dubai to Incheon, and an increase in foreign tourists, mainly from China and Japan.

Incheon International Airport in South Korea became the world's busiest airport for international passenger numbers in the first half of 2026, for the first time since it opened in 2001. According to preliminary data from the Airports Council International (ACI), 38.39 million international passengers passed through the airport in the first six months of the year. In second place was London Heathrow with 37.79 million passengers, followed by Singapore Changi with 34.53 million. Incheon, located about 48 km west of Seoul, has climbed gradually: in 2002 it was in tenth place, in 2018 fifth, and in 2024 and 2025 it reached third. Now it records the greatest achievement in its history. The reasons for the rise include disruptions in Middle East air traffic following the war between the US and Iran. According to Incheon Airport Corporation, the impact on the operations of major aviation hubs such as Dubai caused some passengers to choose alternative transit routes through East Asia. Also, the number of foreign tourists increased: in the first half they accounted for 39.3% of all passengers, compared to 35.2% in all of 2025, and in the second quarter the share reached a record 44.4%, mainly thanks to visitors from China and Japan. Incheon continues to expand: 101 airlines operate there, flying to 183 destinations, and an expansion completed at the end of 2024 increased capacity to 106 million passengers per year. Kim Beom-ho, the acting president of the airport corporation, said the achievement reflects "government support, public encouragement, and the hard work of everyone who works at the airport." South Korea also holds the record for the world's busiest flight route between Gimpo and Jeju, with 14.4 million seats in 2025.