10 Largest Airports in the World

The United States of America boasts a significantly larger number of airports compared to other countries worldwide, with air transport being a cornerstone of the nation’s transportation infrastructure. These airports predominantly serve as conduits for passengers and the essential movement of goods.

The assessment of an airport’s ranking takes into account various key factors, including its total land area, parking amenities, handling capacity, and the volume of passenger and aircraft traffic. Notably, King Fahd International Airport stands as the largest airport globally, encompassing a vast expanse of 485 square miles and simultaneously operating as one of the most bustling aviation hubs.

10. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Los Angeles International Airport is situated in the Westchester district of Los Angeles, approximately 18 miles (30 km) southwest of Downtown Los Angeles. To the north, it neighbors the commercial and residential areas of Westchester, while to the south, it is adjacent to the city of El Segundo. To the east, it shares its borders with the city of Inglewood. LAX serves as the nearest airport for both the Westside and the South Bay regions. The airport’s operations are overseen by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a division of the Los Angeles city government, which also manages Van Nuys Airport, primarily for general aviation. LAX encompasses an expansive land area of 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) and features four parallel runways.

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Passengers: 65,924,298
Aircraft operations: 556,913
Land Area: Approximately 3,500 acres

9. Shanghai Pudong International Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport
Google Earth Image

Pudong Airport serves a dual role, handling both international and a limited number of domestic flights, whereas the city’s other prominent airport, Shanghai–Hongqiao, primarily caters to domestic and regional flights within East Asia. Situated approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) to the east of the city center, this airport falls under the management of the Shanghai Airport Authority.

It assumes the central hub position for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, and plays a significant international hub role for Air China. Furthermore, it functions as a secondary hub for China Southern Airlines. Notably, it serves as the hub for privately owned carriers Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines, and additionally, it operates as a key Asia-Pacific cargo hub for global logistics giants FedEx, UPS, and DHL.

Location: Shanghai, China
Passengers: 32,206,814
Aircraft movements: 349,524
Freight: 3,982,616 tons
Land Area: Approximately 10,001 acres

8. Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport is the larger of the two international airports that cater to Istanbul, Turkey. Situated within the Arnavutköy district on the European side of the city, it achieved a remarkable milestone in 2022, serving over 64 million passengers. This accolade solidified its position as the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh-busiest globally, considering the overall passenger traffic. Moreover, by handling more than 48 million international passengers, it secured its status as the fifth-busiest airport worldwide for international passenger traffic, as per ACI World’s traffic data.

Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Total passengers: 64,486,178
International passengers: 48,591,863
Aircraft Operations: 425,897
Cargo tonnage: 2,557,427
Land Area: Approximately 7,650 acres

7. Charles de Gaulle Paris (CDG)

Charles de Gaulle Paris
Google Earth Image

Charles de Gaulle Airport plays a pivotal role as the primary hub for Air France and serves as a destination for numerous legacy carriers representing Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam. Additionally, it holds the status of a focus city for easyJet. The airport’s operations are overseen by Groupe ADP (Aéroports de Paris) under the Paris Aéroport brand. It distinguishes itself by offering direct flights to an extensive array of countries and hosting the most airlines worldwide. Notably, it stands as the airport with the highest number of airlines serving it, boasting over 105 airlines operating within its premises.

Location: Roissy-en-France, France
Passengers 57,474,033
Aircraft movements 255,971 (2021)
Land Area: Approximately 3,257 acres

6. King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA)

King Abdulaziz International Airport
Google Earth Image

Established in 1981, this airport has the distinction of accommodating the most international travelers and stands as the primary hub for Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s national carrier. It is meticulously equipped with the necessary amenities to cater to pilgrims and visitors coming to the country for Umrah. The airport features three operational passenger terminals: the North Terminal, the Hajj Terminal, and the recently constructed Terminal 1.

Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Passengers: 41,200,000
Traffic movement: 340,333
Land Area: Approximately 105 square kilometres

5. Beijing Capital International Airport (PKX)

Beijing Capital International Airport is one of the two primary international airports serving the city of Beijing, alongside Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). The site is positioned at a distance of approximately 32 kilometres (20 miles) northeast of the city centre of Beijing. It is situated within a distinct portion of Chaoyang District, forming an exclave, and includes the surrounding regions of this exclave in the suburban Shunyi District.

Location: Beijing, China
Passengers: 32,639,013
Aircraft movements: 298,176
Cargo: 1,401,312 tons
Land Area: Approximately 8,595 acres

4. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Google Earth Image

This airport holds the distinction of being the largest hub for American Airlines, with the airline’s headquarters situated nearby. In 2021, it ranked as the third-busiest airport globally in terms of aircraft movements and the second-busiest in passenger traffic, according to the Airports Council International. It also stands as the ninth-busiest international gateway in the United States and the second-busiest in Texas, following Houston-IAH. Notably, American Airlines’ presence at this airport makes it the second-largest single airline hub in the world and in the United States, with Delta Air Lines’ hub in Atlanta being the only larger counterpart.

Location: Dallas, United States
Passengers: 73,362,946
Aircraft operations: 656,676
Cargo: 1,006,122.6 tons
Land Area: Approximately 17,207 acres

3. King Khalid International Airport (KKIA)

King Khalid International Airport
Photo by Separation via Flickr

The airport, which is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, handles about 26 million passengers and is spread out across 137 square miles of territory. This airport has a 4,205-meter-long runway and parking for 11,600 cars. King Khalid International Airport is the world’s fourth-biggest airport.

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Passengers: 26,000,000
Aircraft movements: 212,632
Land Area: Approximately 13,726 acres (allocated area: 375 sq km)

2. Denver International Airport (DIA)

Denver International Airport
Photo by Wally Gobetz via Flickr

With over 600,000 aircraft movements, this airport secured the fifth spot among the busiest airports globally, also ranking as the world’s fifth-largest airport by this measure. It serves as a primary hub for Frontier Airlines, Great Lakes Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.

Location: Denver, United States
Passengers: 69,286,461
Aircraft operations: 615,733
Total cargo: 299,867,352 kg
Land Area: Approximately 13,726 acres

1. King Fahd International Airport (KFIA)

King Fahd International Airport
Photo by Mohammed abu foor via Flickr

This airport is the world’s largest, and it is located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. It handles 9,690,000+ passengers, 138,870 tons of cargo, and 90,000+ aircraft movements. The airport first opened to the public in 1999, and it has a 4,000-meter runway that is 60 meters wide. The airport has a total land area of 485 square miles set aside for it.

Location: Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Passengers 9,690,000+
Cargo (tons) 138,870
Aircraft movements 90,134
Land Area: Approximately 780 square kilometers

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