Beijing will have become the world’s largest airport by seat capacity within three years and Asian airports will account for half the world’s top ten, according to a growth forecast by OAG.

OAG’s August FACTS report reveals the world’s current top ten airports by seat capacity and, using growth trend data for the past three years, extrapolates from this month’s ranking to show the potential situation in August 2016.

Under OAG’s projections, world leader Atlanta will be overtaken by current number two Beijing, while Jakarta, Singapore and Hong Kong will enter the global top ten alongside current Asian member Tokyo Haneda.

Asia’s projected gains will be principally at the expense of the United States, which will see its share of the global top ten slip from four to two airports.

Europe is expected to see a smaller reduction, from three to two airports, thanks to the rise of Istanbul, which is forecast to make a dramatic debut in the 2016 leader board as the world’s third-largest airport.

Top ten largest airports by seat capacity according to OAG FACTS data by August 2016:

• Atlanta
• Beijing
• London Heathrow
• Tokyo Haneda
• Los Angeles
• Chicago O’Hare
• Dubai  
• Frankfurt  
• Paris Charles de Gaulle
• Dallas Fort Worth