Copenhagen Airport has emerged as the fifth most crowded airport in the world, with an average of 9.31 daily passengers per 10m², according to a recent study by travel money experts at
S Money. The research analyzed the floor size of passenger terminals in 128 of the world's busiest airports and compared it with the average daily passenger numbers. As a result, the most crowded airports globally were identified, highlighting the challenges faced by travelers due to congestion.
Among the European airports, Brussels Airport was found to be the most overcrowded, with 13.31 passengers per 10m². Notably, four UK airports made it to Europe's top ten most crowded airports, including London's Stansted, Gatwick, and Heathrow airports, along with Manchester Airport. The European Commission predicts a significant shortfall in flights by 2035 if capacity is not expanded to meet the rising demand.
For Bogota's El Dorado Airport, the situation is even more critical. As Colombia's main hub, it accounts for 48% of the country's air transport and welcomed a staggering 35.5 million passengers in 2022, surpassing Brazil's Sao Paulo Guarulhos to become the second-busiest airport in Latin America. With 14.53 passengers per 10m², El Dorado faces more overcrowding than other major airports like Brussels Airport and Sao Paulo's secondary airport, Congonhas.
In North America, U.S. airports dominate the list of crowded airports. Seattle-Tacoma International emerged as the most crowded airport in the region, witnessing 10.19 passengers per 10m² in its central terminal. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported a significant rebound in air travel with more than 853 million passengers flying with U.S. airlines in 2022, a notable recovery from the pandemic-induced lows of 2020.
The findings shed light on the pressing need for airport expansion and improvements to accommodate the increasing number of passengers and enhance the overall travel experience. While some airports have already taken steps to relieve congestion, the study serves as a reminder of the importance of continual development and planning to address the challenges posed by overcrowding in major aviation hubs. Photo by Dornum72, Wikimedia commons.