The statistical agency OAG published the 2022 edition of Megahubs, the list of the 50 most internationally connected airports in the world. Last updated in 2019, Megahubs provides insight into the drastic changes experienced since the pandemic and subsequent recovery.
While London Heathrow (LHR) maintained its top spot among European transport hubs, its overall ranking fell from first place in 2019 to 22nd this year. Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Frankfurt (FRA) airports experienced similar drops, dropping out of the top ten to fall to 27th and 30th respectively.
U.S. airports lead the Megahubs list, with Chicago O’Hare (ORD, No. 1), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW; No. 2) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL; No. 3) ranking as the top three most connected airports in the world.
Mexico City Juarez International Airport (MEX) is the highest-ranked non-U.S. megahub in the rankings, coming in at No. 8, having climbed 7 spots from its No. 15 position in 2019.
Beyond CDMX, which breaks the U.S. hegemony of the top 12, also representing the region is ElDorado Airport (BOG) in 18th place; one place down is Toronto Pearson (YYZ), first of three Canadian terminals on the list (Vancouver 28th and Quebec 50th), and rounding out São Paulo – Guarulhos (33rd), Lima- Jorge Chavez (47th) and Cancun (46th).
According to the report, the airport serving the Mexican capital benefited from the political decision not to close air traffic during the pandemic, which allowed the reduction of connections to be only 16%, an incidence significantly lower than the global trend.
«The global market has not yet fully recovered from the pandemic. While the US is in a dominant position at present thanks to its strong domestic market, we could see Europe and other global hubs catching up over the next 12 months as the industry works towards a full recovery,» says John Grant, chief analyst at OAG.
The most connected Asia-Pacific megahub is Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), as Hong Kong International Airport dropped out of the Top 50. Bombay International Airport (BOM) is ranked No. 6 in Asia Pacific, while Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) falls to No. 12.
