Beijing Airport becoming the second busiest airport in the world

Beijing surpassed London's Heathrow Airport in passenger traffic last year, becoming the second busiest airport in the world, according to a preliminary report released Tuesday by Airports Council International.

Heathrow, hobbled last year by snow storms, a volcanic eruption in Iceland, and strikes by airline workers that led to massive cancellations of flights, dropped to number four on the list behind Chicago's O'Hare.

Beijing's ascent highlights the rise of the Asia Pacific region which is on the cusp of becoming the biggest air travel market in the world, largely because of China's increasing economic dominance.

"Given China's massive population base, a population that is increasingly able to travel by air, and China's role in global commerce and tourism ... China will be the primary driver behind much of the region's growth," says Henry Harteveldt, airline analyst with Forrester Research. "Given the current situation in Japan, it's possible that China's growth and dominance may become even more pronounced, as travel within, from and to Japan will undoubtedly soften to some extent near-term."