Business Travel Airport Index

Booking.com for Business has analysed 50 of the world's busiest airports based on key factors that impact business travellers, revealing the destinations that offer the best potential for corporate trips. 

The best U.S. airports for business travellers

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the best in the U.S. for business travel, with a score of 8.02/10

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retains its top spot for a second year running, thanks to its reliability and extensive route network. The airport offers 147 direct business-class routes, representing 60% of all its direct flights, and served 108 million passengers in 2024 - more than any other airport in the world.

Atlanta also benefits from being the primary hub for Delta Air Lines, which contributes to its strong punctuality record. Delta alone operated 1.7 million flights in 2024, maintaining an 83% on-time arrival rate, one of the best among major carriers. This high level of performance helps ensure that business travellers flying through Atlanta experience fewer missed connections and shorter delays.

With 24 lounges, one of the country’s largest car hire fleets, and an average transfer time to Atlanta’s central business district of 23 minutes, Hartsfield-Jackson stands out as one of the most efficient U.S. airports for corporate travellers balancing tight schedules.

2. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport ranks second, with a score of 7.71/10

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (often shortened to Sea-Tac) rises to second place, overtaking Los Angeles and Miami compared to the previous ranking. Sea-Tac performs strongly in terms of its quality and options of perks, boasting a four-star Skytrax rating and 16 lounges designed for working travellers.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Sea-Tac recorded the lowest average delay among major U.S. airports in 2025 – just 53 minutes for departures, which is around 25 minutes faster than the national average.

With 16 three-star hotels within a one-mile radius, Sea-Tac is well-equipped for last-minute layovers or early flights, making it ideal for professionals managing multiple meetings across different time zones.

3. The third-best U.S. airport for business travel is Miami International Airport, with an overall score of 7.61/10

Miami International Airport offers excellent ground transport links, being just 22 minutes from Brickell City Centre, Miami’s financial hub. It has the largest car hire fleet in the U.S., at 563 vehicles, providing flexible options for reaching the city centre for meetings or onward destinations.

Although Miami’s percentage of business-class routes (38%) trails behind those of Seattle and Atlanta, it compensates with 196 total direct routes, offering business travel passengers more flexibility and options to rebook flights if they need to, due to any travel disruption or last-minute schedule changes. 

What’s more, a $9 billion modernisation programme titled ‘Future Ready’ is already improving terminal efficiency, TSA processing, and boarding times. With airport-wide upgrades like this underway, MIA is set to improve passenger experience across both leisure and business travel even further.

The best U.S. airports for each factor

John F. Kennedy International Airport

• John F. Kennedy Airport is best for productive downtime, offering travellers 35 lounges

New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport now offers 35 lounges, up from 27 last year, which is more than any other U.S. airport. For frequent flyers, that translates to more space, a less stressful environment, and reliable access to quiet working areas in one of the country’s busiest travel hubs.

Lounges have become vital for business travellers who need to balance tight deadlines and long-haul flights. They provide fast Wi-Fi, secure charging, and quiet areas for calls or preparation, alongside comfort perks such as showers and private rest areas that help travellers arrive refreshed and ready for meetings.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

• Dallas-Fort Worth offers the most direct routes (270), cutting down connection time

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport remains the best-connected airport in the U.S., offering 270 non-stop routes – an increase of 4.7% from 258 last year. Its most frequent connection, Los Angeles, sees more than one million flights annually.

For corporate travellers, this scale offers a key advantage - time efficiency. Direct routes mean fewer layovers, reduced risk of missed connections, and smoother schedules, especially for those flying in and out for same-day meetings. Direct flights also help travellers maintain sleep and work routines, reducing fatigue from multiple time zones or delays.

In fact, a study from the European Transport Research Review revealed that a delayed arrival at a layover airport of just 30 minutes resulted in two-fifths (40.3%) of passengers missing their connecting flights; when the delay extended to 60 minutes, this figure jumped to over 70%. These numbers show just how crucial on-time flights can be for travellers, especially those on business trips, who often have tight schedules.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

• Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson leads for business class connectivity, offering 147 routes

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ranks highest for business class flight options, with 147 routes offering premium cabins, which is around 60% of its total direct flights.

For business travellers, this means a significantly higher chance of finding a comfortable and productive seat on the route you need. Business-class cabins give travellers space to rest or prepare for meetings mid-air, while the airport’s 24 lounges – the third-highest number in the U.S. – provide additional working or rest areas before departure.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

• Seattle-Tacoma offers the highest share of business-class routes of any U.S. airport

While Atlanta has the most business-class routes overall, Sea-Tac takes the crown for the highest proportion of its total flight routes, demonstrating a high level of commitment to servicing corporate travellers. Out of the 137 routes with direct flights in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, you can fly business class on 90 (66%) of them. 

This high ratio means that business travellers are more likely to access premium seating, even on shorter or regional routes, making it easier to work comfortably or rest en route to meetings. Sea-Tac also complements its flight offering with corporate-friendly facilities, including quiet workspaces, lounges (16), free Wi-Fi, and shower facilities to make long-haul transfers more comfortable.

• The airport with the most three-star hotels within one mile is Seattle-Tacoma, with 16 accommodations in easy reach of the terminals

With 16 three-star hotels within one mile, Seattle-Tacoma offers more nearby accommodation options than any other U.S. airport. Trusted chains like Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Ramada by Wyndham give travellers a wealth of business-friendly options within walking or shuttle distance of the terminals.

For executives with early flights or short layovers, that proximity can mean the difference between a good night’s rest and an early-hours alarm, helping them save time, improve alertness, and reduce stress.

Miami International Airport

• The easiest airport to hire a car is Miami International Airport, with 563 vehicles available to hire

This year, Miami International Airport replaced Orlando International Airport as the airport with the most cars available for hire, at 563. Access to on-site car hire provides business travellers with more flexibility than taxis or transfers, especially when visiting multiple clients or offices during a single trip. 

Hire availability, paired with MIA’s impressive infrastructure investment programme, makes it a standout hub for business travellers seeking easy connections and state-of-the-art facilities.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the closest to the central business district, at just 10 minutes away by car

If you’re looking to land and get to the central business district quickly, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the best option. It takes just 10 minutes by car to reach the business district or the Phoenix Convention Centre. 

This fast transfer time is invaluable for business travellers on short trips, helping them move from arrivals to meeting rooms in under half an hour. Phoenix’s strong local industries, including technology, aerospace, healthcare, and finance, make it a natural hub for business events and conferences.

The best airports in the world for business travellers

1. Dubai International Airport is the best in the world for business travellers, with a near-perfect score of 9.55 out of 10

Despite a decrease in its overall score from 9.73 since our last report, Dubai International Airport keeps its title as the best airport in the world for business travellers, with an impressive score of 9.55 out of 10. Dubai consistently scored high across each factor.

The latest growth insights for business travel in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) predict a CAGR of 8.8% between 2024 and 2030, resulting in a revenue boost from corporate travel of approximately 40 million USD to over 94 million USD. The region’s low corporate tax may contribute to its growth as a global business hub, as well as its strategic location, which easily connects Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

2. Singapore Changi Airport is the second-best airport for business travel, with a score of 9.01/10

Singapore Changi Airport has replaced Tokyo as the second-best airport for corporate travellers, compared to our previous report, with a score of 9.01 out of 10. Singapore Airport offers a unique experience that goes above and beyond your typical expectations of what an airport is. 

Its second-place ranking is unsurprising, given its renowned cleanliness, exceptional customer service, and efficiency. Other factors contributing to its success include its numerous lounges, three-star hotels within a one-mile radius, a high Skytrax rating, and close proximity to the central business district. 

3. The third-best airport for business travel is Frankfurt Airport, with a score of 8.62/10

Frankfurt Airport completes the top three with a score of 8.62 out of 10. Frankfurt maintains its third-place ranking due to its extensive route network with direct flights, a strong Skytrax rating, close proximity to the central business district, and numerous hotels within a one-mile radius. 

Although connecting flights aren’t recommended for business travellers, sometimes they can’t be avoided, and Frankfurt is one of the best places for connections. It's known for its high transfer rates and efficiency, dedicated to facilitating quick connections between flights. 

The best global airports for each factor

London Heathrow Airport

• With 46 on offer, Heathrow Airport has the most lounges in the world

London Heathrow Airport now hosts 46 lounges, the most of any airport in the world, giving corporate travellers valuable space to work, rest, or meet privately in one of the world’s busiest terminals.

Handling nearly 83.9 million passengers in 2024, Heathrow’s high passenger volumes make lounge access key for productivity. Lounge access is often included with business-class tickets or travel cards, but even pay-on-entry options (from around £36) offer a worthwhile upgrade for professionals facing long waits.

Istanbul Airport

• Istanbul Airport offers more direct routes than any other, with 314 flights across 13 routes

Istanbul Airport remains the most connected airport in the world, offering 314 direct routes – 13 more than in our last report’s analysis. As the larger of Istanbul’s two international airports, its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia has helped it retain its title by allowing travellers to cross continents without detours or lengthy layovers. 

For business travellers, this connectivity means faster access to emerging markets and fewer complex itineraries. 

Tokyo Haneda Airport and Doha’s Hamad International Airport

• Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Doha’s Hamad International Airport lead for business class availability

Tokyo Haneda Airport and Doha’s Hamad International Airport share first place for premium corporate travel, with 95% of all direct routes offering business-class cabins.

At Hamad, 174 out of 184 (94.6%) routes include a business class option, which is ideal for long-haul travellers connecting between Europe and Asia. Tokyo Haneda, meanwhile, offers 97 out of 102 (95.1%) routes with premium seating, ensuring a comfortable workspace for traveling executives. 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has the world’s best access to hotels

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has 105 three-star hotels within a one-mile radius of the airport, the most of any airport in the world. However, despite a high concentration of hotels near the airport, it’s between 40 and 70 minutes away from the central business district, Narim Point. 

That being said, some of the lounges in Mumbai’s airport feature business centres, complete with workstations and meeting facilities for work or client meetings. Complimentary Wi-Fi is also available throughout the airport. 

Frankfurt Airport and Dubai International Airport

• The airports closest to the central business district are in Frankfurt and Dubai, both just 19 minutes away by car

In joint first place are Frankfurt Airport and Dubai International Airport, both just an average of 19 minutes away from the central business district. In Frankfurt, business travellers can reach Willy-Brandt-Platz (the city’s financial core) in as little as 12 minutes, while Dubai International Airport is just 14 minutes from the Burj Khalifa and surrounding corporate towers.

Both airports also have nine three-star hotels within a one-mile radius, giving business travellers the choice between staying near the terminals or the city centre, depending on schedules.

How to get the best experience when traveling for business

Nadine Blokker, Booking.com for Business expert, comments: “As this research has demonstrated, some airports and destinations are more suitable for business travellers than others. However, as your destination is sometimes out of your control, there are steps you can take to achieve a smooth corporate travel experience:

1. Book hotels based on proximity to airports and appointments, not price alone

Choosing a hotel close to both the airport and the central business district can save valuable time in transit, giving your team longer to prepare and relax between commitments. The well-being and energy levels of business travellers can significantly impact their performance in meetings with clients or suppliers, making this a crucial aspect to consider.

2. Fly direct where possible

Eliminating layovers reduces travel time and the likelihood of delays, which can help minimise stress and keep corporate travellers feeling refreshed and on top form for business meetings. For businesses with a strong sustainability focus, choosing direct flights can also help reduce scope one emissions. Thanks to factors such as fewer takeoffs and landing cycles, they are more environmentally friendly than ones with layovers.

3. Hire a car to make onward travel easier

Relying on taxis or public transport can limit flexibility, especially when meetings overrun. Pre-booking car hire for pick-up at the airport lets travellers adapt in real time and stay in control of their schedules. Hiring a car can often be more cost-effective than taxis, helping organisers cut costs across all corporate travel.

4. Establish and communicate clear travel policies and support systems

Smooth business travel starts with structure. Clear corporate travel policies and centralised booking tools help teams plan consistently, control costs, and reduce last-minute disruption. Set clear rules on approvals, preferred suppliers, and class of travel, and ensure employees have 24/7 support if plans change.

Methodology

We looked at the 50 busiest airports globally and collected the following data points for each:

• Number of routes with direct flights and the proportion offering business class, sourced from https://www.flightsfrom.com/  
• Number of lounges, sourced from https://loungereview.com/lounges/airport/ist/                                                                      
• Skytrax overall rating (out of 5), sourced from https://skytraxratings.com/airports                                   
• Number of 3-star hotels within a one-mile radius of the airport, sourced from https://www.booking.com/                                   
• Driving time to the city's central business district (CBD), sourced from https://www.google.com/maps. Times were recorded as the midpoint of the estimated range given for a 10am weekday departure from the airport to a landmark at the heart of the CBD.

For the U.S. airports, we also looked at:

• Number of hire cars available, sourced from https://www.booking.com/. For consistency, we assumed a vehicle pick-up date of Friday, 26 September 2025, at 10am and a drop-off on Monday, 29 September 2025, at 10am.

We then combined the factors to create a Business Travel Score for each airport, giving each factor equal weight in the final ranking.