DXB Adds 190,000 Seats as Peak Summer Demand Builds
Dubai International Airport has retained its position as the world's busiest airport for international seat capacity in August, with airlines scheduling 4.54 million one-way seats, equivalent to roughly nine million seats across both directions. According to aviation data provider OAG, the airport recorded a 4.4% increase in scheduled international seat capacity compared with July, adding around 190,000 seats month on month as carriers expanded operations to meet peak summer demand.
The growth kept Dubai comfortably ahead of its global peers. London Heathrow ranked second with 4.26 million scheduled international seats, followed by Seoul Incheon in third with 3.95 million. Amsterdam Schiphol placed fourth with 3.85 million seats, while Istanbul Airport rounded out the top five with 3.80 million, according to OAG's rankings for the month.
A 12th Straight Year at the Top for International Passengers
The August figures build on a longer run of dominance for Dubai International. The airport also retained its title as the world's busiest for international passengers in 2025, marking the 12th consecutive year it has held the ranking, according to Airports Council International. It welcomed a record 95.2 million passengers over the year, up 3.1% from 2024 and the busiest year in the airport's history, before handling a further 18.6 million passengers in the first quarter of 2026.
Airlines operating through Dubai have continued to add capacity through the summer season, reinforcing the hub's role as the preferred connecting point between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. With international seat capacity still climbing month on month, Dubai International looks set to remain the world's leading hub for cross-border air travel well beyond the current peak season.
