Airports In Every State: A Comprehensive Guide

Air travel is an essential part of the transportation system in the United States, with airports facilitating domestic and international travel. As of 2022, there are approximately 14,000 public airports in the country, with each state having at least one public airport. However, the number of airports varies across states, with some states having far more airports than others. The US also has several primary airports, which are those that offer planned passenger services and have more than 10,000 passenger embarkments per year. These primary airports are further categorized into large, medium, small, and non-primary hubs based on the percentage of overall passenger boardings they represent.

US states with the most and fewest airports

While each US state has at least one airport, the number varies significantly. Factors such as population size and proximity to major airports in neighbouring states influence the number of airports in a state.

US States with the Most Airports

According to data from 2006, Alaska has the most airports by a significant margin, with 352 airports. California follows with 139, and Ohio with 75. Alaska's large number of airports may be due to its vast geographical area and the need to serve remote communities.

US States with the Fewest Airports

Vermont has the fewest commercial airports of any US state, with only one airport requiring FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certification. This is likely due to its proximity to large airports in neighbouring states such as New York and Massachusetts.

Connecticut, Delaware, and New Hampshire each have two commercial airports that fit FAA certification criteria. These states' relatively small populations and their proximity to major airports in other states contribute to the lower number of airports.

The busiest airports in the US

Every state in the US has at least one public airport, but the number of airports in each state varies depending on factors such as size, population, tourism, and transportation needs. While smaller states may only need a few airports, larger states require extensive airport networks.

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): Recognized as the busiest airport in the US and the world, ATL handled approximately 104.7 million passengers in 2023, with nearly 776,000 takeoffs and landings recorded in the same year. The airport serves as a major hub for domestic and international flights, with Delta Air Lines being the primary airline operating at ATL and accounting for about 75% of passenger traffic. Its strategic location and extensive flight network contribute to its high volume of passengers.
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): Spanning 26 square miles, DFW is one of the busiest airports in the US and the world, serving as a major hub for domestic and international travel. In 2023, it welcomed approximately 81.7 million passengers, reflecting a steady recovery in air travel post-pandemic. DFW boasts five terminals, 171 gates, and seven runways, enabling efficient handling of high air traffic volume.
• Denver International Airport (DEN): DEN is the third busiest airport in the US and the largest airport in North America by total land area. In 2023, it served around 77 million passengers, showcasing a robust recovery and growth in air travel. American Airlines is the dominant carrier at DEN, but the airport also accommodates numerous domestic and international flights from other airlines. DEN boasts six runways, including the longest commercial runway in North America, enabling simultaneous landings and departures to reduce delays.
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): LAX is a major global gateway and the fourth busiest airport in the US, handling approximately 75 million passengers in 2023. It consistently ranks among the busiest airports globally and serves as a primary international gateway for travelers heading to East Asia, Southeast Asia, and beyond. LAX is currently undergoing several major projects, including an automated people mover system, to enhance capacity and improve the passenger experience.

These airports not only facilitate passenger travel but also contribute significantly to their local economies, generating billions in economic output and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Primary airports in the US

Airports are a vital part of the transportation system in the United States, connecting people across the country and facilitating domestic and international travel. Each of the 50 states has at least one public airport, with a total of approximately 14,000 public airports across the country as of 2022.

Primary airports, also known as primary commercial service airports, are large airports that handle a significant volume of passenger traffic. They are publicly owned and process more than 10,000 revenue passenger boardings per year. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) designates airports as primary, non-primary, or reliever, based on their size, infrastructure, and service offerings.

• Grand Canyon West Airport
• Lehigh Valley International Airport
• Albuquerque International Sunport
• Nashville International Airport
• Boston Logan International Airport
• Beaumont/Port Arthur
• Bangor International Airport
• Birmingham International Airport
• Billings Logan International Airport
• Bemidji Regional Airport
• Central Illinois Regional Airport
• Atlanta International Airport
• Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
• Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport
• Bradley International Airport
• Western Nebraska Regional Airport
• Boeing Field/King County International Airport
• Bangor International Airport
• Binghamton Airport
• Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport
• Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport
• Baton Rouge International Airport
• Buffalo Niagara International Airport
• Burbank Bob Hope Airport
• Baltimore/Washington International Airport
• Bozeman Gallatin Field Airport
• Akron-Canton Airport
• Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
• Charleston International Airport
• Cedar Rapids Eastern Iowa Airport
• Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
• Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
• Port Columbus International Airport
• William P. Hobby International Airport
• Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport
• Colorado Springs Airport
• Corpus Christi International Airport
• Charleston Yeager Airport
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
• Central Wisconsin Airport
• Cheyenne Regional Airport
• Daytona Beach International Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
• Duluth International Airport
• Des Moines International Airport
• Detroit Metro Airport
• Eagle County Regional Airport
• El Paso International Airport
• Erie International Airport
• Evansville Regional Airport
• Fairbanks International Airport
• Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport
• Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport
• Bishop International Airport
• Fort Wayne International Airport
• Gerald R. Ford International Airport
• Spokane International Airport
• Grand Forks International Airport
• Gainesville Regional Airport
• Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
• Austin Straubel International Airport
• Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport
• Saipan International Airport
• Piedmont Triad International Airport
• Great Falls International Airport
• Guam International Airport
• Yampa Valley Regional Airport
• Huntsville International Airport
• Washington Dulles International Airport
• Wichita Mid-Continent Airport
• Idaho Falls Regional Airport
• Wilmington International Airport
• Indianapolis International Airport
• Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport
• Hilo International Airport
• Jacksonville International Airport
• John F. Kennedy International Airport
• Juneau International Airport
• Johnstown-Cambria County Airport
• Kona International Airport
• Lansing Capital City Airport
• Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport
• Los Angeles International Airport
• Lubbock International Airport
• Lake Charles Regional Airport
• Little Rock National Airport
• Laredo International Airport
• Lynchburg Regional Airport/Preston Glenn Field
• Midland International Airport
• Kansas City International Airport
• Orlando International Airport
• Harrisburg International Airport
• Chicago Midway Airport
• Medford Rogue Valley International Airport
• Miami International Airport
• General Mitchell International Airport
• Melbourne International Airport
• Quad City International Airport
• Mobile Regional Airport
• Modesto City-County Airport
• Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport
• New Orleans International Airport
• Martha's Vineyard Airport
• Myrtle Beach Airport
• Oakland International Airport
• Ontario International Airport
• Norfolk International Airport
• Newark Liberty International Airport
• Key West International Airport
• Palm Beach International Airport
• Portland International Airport
• Panama City-Bay County International Airport
• Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
• Philadelphia International Airport
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
• Pittsburgh International Airport
• Pullman/Moscow Regional Airport
• Portland International Jetport
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport
• Richmond International Airport
• Reno-Tahoe International Airport
• Rochester International Airport
• Southwest Florida International Airport
• San Diego International Airport
• San Antonio International Airport
• Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport
• Santa Barbara Airport
• San Francisco International Airport
• <

The role of airports

Airports play a crucial role in the transportation infrastructure of the United States, connecting millions of people across the country and facilitating domestic and international travel. As of 2022, there are approximately 14,000 public airports in the country, with each state having at least one public airport. These airports vary in size and capacity, ranging from major international hubs to smaller regional airports.

The US has some of the busiest airports in the world, and these airports play a vital role in facilitating travel and connecting people across the country and around the globe. Certain airports, such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Chicago O'Hare International Airport, are notable for their high volume of passenger traffic.

Airports also serve various other roles beyond passenger travel. They facilitate air cargo transportation, medical evacuation flights, and military operations. Additionally, airports often act as economic engines for their surrounding communities, attracting businesses and generating job opportunities.

As air travel continues to grow, airports face the challenge of meeting increasing demand while ensuring safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. This requires ongoing infrastructure improvements and expansions to accommodate larger aircraft, enhance security, and improve passenger amenities.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies airports into different categories based on their size, infrastructure, and the type of services they offer. Primary airports, which include large commercial hubs, are those with more than 10,000 passenger boardings per year. Non-primary airports are smaller and mainly serve general aviation and non-commercial flights. Reliever airports help to alleviate congestion at primary airports.

In conclusion, airports in the United States serve diverse economic, transportation, and public service roles. They are essential for connecting people, facilitating travel, and supporting local communities. As air travel continues to grow, careful planning and funding are necessary to balance airport expansion with environmental and community considerations.

The classification of airports

Airports in the US are categorised based on their size, infrastructure, and the type of services they offer. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a system for classifying public-use airports, which determines their eligibility for federal funding through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Here is a detailed breakdown of the classification of airports:

Primary Airports

Primary airports are typically large commercial airports that handle a significant amount of passenger traffic. They are further classified into four subcategories based on the number of passenger boardings as a fraction of the national total:

• Non-hub primary airports handle over 10,000 but less than 0.05% of the country's annual passenger boardings.
• Small-hub primary airports handle between 0.05% to 0.25% of the country's annual passenger boardings.
• Medium-hub primary airports handle between 0.25% to 1% of the country's annual passenger boardings.
• Large-hub primary airports handle over 1% of the country's annual passenger boardings.

Non-Primary Airports

Non-primary airports are smaller and primarily serve general aviation and non-commercial flights. They handle fewer than 10,000 scheduled passengers each year, with most aircraft being small and operated by individuals or private entities.

Reliever Airports

Reliever airports help alleviate congestion at primary airports by providing additional capacity. They are typically large general aviation airports located in metropolitan areas that offload small aircraft traffic from hub airports in the region.

Part 139 Airport Classification

The FAA also has a separate classification system called Part 139, which incorporates all airports covered by the statute, including those serving scheduled operations of small air carrier aircraft and those serving a mixture of air carrier operations. Under this system, airports are classified into four classes based on the type of air carrier operations served:

• Class I airports serve all types of scheduled operations of large air carrier aircraft (30+ seats) and any other type of air carrier operations. They must comply with all Part 139 requirements.
• Class II airports serve scheduled operations of small air carrier aircraft (10-30 seats) and unscheduled operations of large air carrier aircraft. They are not permitted to serve scheduled large air carrier operations.
• Class III airports are those that will be newly certificated and serve only scheduled operations of small air carrier aircraft.
• Class IV airports serve only unscheduled operations of large air carrier aircraft.

Frequently asked questions