The surge in foreign visitors helped Haneda airport set a record for passengers handled in 2015, but its global ranking is expected to fall, transport ministry and airport data show.

The airport in central Tokyo handled 75.32 million passengers last year, the most since the airport opened, according to preliminary figures released Wednesday by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry.

Ministry officials credited the increase in landing and takeoff slots for international flights and the jump in foreign travelers.

But based on figures released by other airports, Haneda is expected to place fifth in the global ranking for 2015, down from fourth a year earlier.

Haneda topped London's Heathrow Airport, which ranked third in 2014 behind Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta and Beijing Capital International Airport.

But preliminary data from other airports show that Haneda trails Dubai International Airport, which handled an estimated 78.01 million passengers, and Chicago O'Hare International Airport, which handled roughly 76.95 million, placing them sixth and seventh place, respectively, in 2014.

Haneda handled around 12.75 million international passengers and 62.57 million domestic passengers in 2015.