As different parts of the world take different approaches to getting back into the air after the pandemic, passenger traffic at airports worldwide varies. But a snapshot of the world's busiest airports in March 2022 reveals where the airline industry is getting back onto its feet and where it is not.

Data compiled by airline industry analytics business OAG reveals just what airports passengers are heading to. Recently released OAG data ranks the world's 20 busiest airports in March 2022. Mostly they are familiar names, but they also concentrate in regions with very strong domestic markets and except for North Asia, relatively liberal border policies. While US airports figure prominently, there is a respectable spread of top 20 airports around the globe.

Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport makes the top 20 rankings

Bringing up the rear, in 20th place in March is Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (AMS), with 2,509,452 passengers expected to pass through it this month. That figure is 24.5% down in March 2019 levels but a 13% improvement on February 2022 levels. In 19th place is Shenzhen​​​'s Bao'an International Airport (SZX) with 2,523,846 passengers due to pass through its terminals this month. That number is 5.4% down on the March 2019 figure but a 0.8% improvement on February's figure

In 18th spot is Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) where 2,580,804 are anticipated to pass through this month - that's 27.3% down on March 2019 number but up 15.2% compared to February. Lurking in the top 20 in the 17th spot is Orlando International Airport (MCO) which will see 2,625,881 passengers this month. That number is only 2.4% down on the comparable 2019 number and 6.8% on February's number.

Sitting in the 16th spot is Beijing's Capital Airport (PEK) which is expected to process 2,631,166 passengers this month. That figure is a whopping 49.0% down on the March 2019 levels but up 12.1% compared to February. Of the top 20 airports, PEK has the biggest gap between current passenger numbers and pre-pandemic numbers.

Miami's passenger number beat March 2019 levels

The US makes an entrance with Miami International Airport (MIA) taking 15th spot in the top 20 rankings, with 2,748,878 passengers moving through the airport this month. That figure is up 17.2% on the March 2019 figure and up 0.6% on last month. In 14th spot is Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) where an anticipated 2,771,643 passengers will fly in and out of in March - a 27.9% decrease on March 2019 levels but up 5.3% on February's numbers.

A Southeast Asian airport makes an appearance in the 13th spot. Jakarta's Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (CGK) is handling 2,784,238 passengers in March, down 13.7% on March 2019 figures and also down 1.4% compared to February's figures. In 12th spot is Istanbul International Airport (IST) which will process 2,798,427 this month, a decline of 15.7% compared to March 2019 but up 6.7% on last month's passenger numbers.

Back in the US, New York's JFK Airport (JFK) snares 11th spot with 2,817,356 passengers in March. This number is a 10.7% drop compared to March 2019 but a 4.2% increase on February's figure. Across the Atlantic, London Heathrow (LHR) is regaining some of its former mojo, handling 2,914,169 passengers this month and taking the 10th spot in the top 20 airports list. Passenger traffic at Heathrow remains 30.2% down on the comparable 2019 period but has jumped 21% since February.

US airports feature in the top 10 rankings

North Asia makes another appearance in the top 20, with Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) snagging the ninth spot with 2,974,916 passengers in March - a substantial 35.6% drop from March 2019 levels but also a 12.1% rise against February passenger traffic numbers. Move into eighth spot and monthly airport passenger traffic cracks the three million number. Los Angeles International (LAX) will see 3,167,305 passengers this month. The number is a solid 26.5% down on the March 2019 number but up 2.7% compared to February.

Now there's a run of US airports in the rankings. In seventh spot is Denver International Airport (DEN) where 3,267,307 passengers will pass through his month - a 0.8% increase on March 2019 numbers and up 1.3% against February this year. In sixth spot is Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), handling 3,331,536 passengers in March. Unlike Denver and Miami, Chicago's traffic this month is down compared to March 2019 levels - recording a 19.4% decrease. On the bright side, passenger traffic at ORD is up 5.8% since February.

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport cracks the top five

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW) takes fifth spot with 3,413,061 passengers passing through this month. DFW numbers are also down compared to March 2019 levels - 3.2% down. But the airport also recorded a small increase, 0.4%, on February's passenger traffic numbers. Back to China and the mighty Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) snares fourth ranking with 3,453,950 passengers in March. Like its top 20 counterpart airports in Beijing and Shanghai, March's numbers are down compared to the comparable 2019 number, but in CAN's case, only down by 7.1%. Passenger traffic through Guangzhou in March was also up 6.6% compared to February.

In the third spot lurks Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), where 3,504,739 passed through in March - a big comeback for the airport. Passenger numbers through Delhi Airport are actually up 6.7% compared to March 2019 and up 18.4% compared to February this year.

In second place is Emirates' home base, Dubai International Airport (DXB) - an astonishing ranking considering DXB is strictly an international airport. 3,703,845 passengers will pass through Dubai International this month. It's still down 23.1% on March 2019 levels but also up 5.8% against the February traffic numbers.

The busiest airport in the world is?

What is the busiest airport in terms of passenger numbers this month? Take a bow Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International (ATL). Atlanta's first place is no real surprise given the key international and domestic airport in Georgia regularly appears in top place. In March, 4,552,931 passengers will move through ATL, a significant margin on the second place getter. Atlanta's numbers are still down 16.4% against March 2019 but up 3.4% compared to February

OAG says of the top 20 busiest airports globally, only Delhi, Denver, and Miami have reached above March 2019 capacity levels in the current month. Beijing remains the furthest behind with just 49% of the level of March 2019 capacity operating this month. Tokyo's Haneda Airport is also considerably behind, with capacity operating at just below two-thirds of March 2019 levels.

OAG notes Heathrow's rebound, with various airlines adding 21% more seats this month compared to February. OAG also gives shout-outs to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport where capacity is growing well.