Airports In The Us: A Comprehensive Overview

The United States is home to over 19,700 airports, with 5,170 open to the general public and 503 serving commercial flights. The country's airports are divided into four categories by the FAA: Large Hub, Medium Hub, Small Hub, and Non-Hub. Airports in the US vary in size and popularity, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport being the busiest, serving 50.9 million passengers annually, and smaller airports like Kittie Hill Airport and Garden City Regional Airport serving a more local population. The US also has several large airports, such as Washington Dulles International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which cover extensive areas and feature multiple runways and terminals to accommodate high air traffic.

Busiest airports in the US

The US is home to some of the world's biggest airports, with an incredible amount of foot and flight traffic. Airports in the US that provide scheduled passenger services and over 10,000 passenger boardings per year are classified as primary airports by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These primary airports are further classified into four "hub" types based on the total number of passenger enplanements: Large, Medium, Small, and Non-Hub. Large hubs, for instance, account for at least 1% of total US passenger enplanements, which generally translates to 18,500,000 or more total passengers.

As of 2024, four of the world's busiest airports were in the US, according to an annual report by aviation analytics firm OAG Aviation. These were:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta (62.7 million seats)
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas (4.4 million seats)
• Denver International Airport, Denver
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago (35.8 million passengers)

Other US airports that have been named among the busiest in the country include:

• Los Angeles International Airport (40.9 million passengers)
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (ranked #1 in a travel magazine's 2024 reader poll)
• Washington (Dulles) International Airport, Washington, D.C.
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, TX

Largest airports in the US

The United States is home to some of the world's biggest airports, with an incredible amount of foot and flight traffic. Airports in the United States that provide scheduled passenger services and have over 10,000 passenger boardings per year are classified as primary airports by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These primary airports are further classified into four "hub" types based on the total number of passenger enplanements: Large hubs, Medium hubs, Small hubs, and Non-hub commercial service airports.

Large hub airports account for at least 1% of total U.S. passenger enplanements, which generally translates to 18,500,000 or more total passengers annually. Medium hub airports account for between 0.25% and 1% of total U.S. passenger enplanements, typically accommodating between 3,500,000 and 18,500,000 passengers per year. Small hub airports account for between 0.05% and 0.25% of total passenger enplanements, serving approximately 500,000 to 3,500,000 passengers annually.

Some of the largest airports in the US, based on passenger numbers and flight traffic, include:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: With 50.9 million passengers and 341,835 flights per year, Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the US and one of the busiest in the world.
• Los Angeles International Airport: This airport handles 40.9 million passengers annually, making it the second-busiest airport in the US.
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport: This airport has seen significant growth, with a capacity increase of 18% since 2019. In 2024, it ranked fourth busiest in the world, with 4.4 million seats.
• Denver International Airport: Denver Airport has also experienced substantial growth, with a 24% capacity increase since 2019.
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport: Handling 35.8 million passengers per year, Chicago O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the US.
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP): This airport won the top spot in a travel magazine's 2024 reader poll due to its ease of navigation, convenient gate locations, and excellent amenities, including shops and restaurants.

Public vs. military airports

Airports in the United States are classified into several categories. The two main types of airports are civilian and military airports, with civilian airports further classified into public and private airports. Airports in the US can also be categorized based on the nature and volume of operations, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifying airports that provide scheduled passenger services and have over 10,000 passenger boardings per year as primary airports.

Military airports, often referred to as airbases, are aerodromes used by military personnel for military aircraft flight operations. These airbases have various aircraft facilities, including air traffic control, aircraft maintenance, emergency response facilities, weapon storage, and briefing rooms for military operations. Some military aviation bases have built revetments or protective aircraft shelters to safeguard aircraft from potential enemy attacks. Military airport beacons are distinguished from civilian beacons by their lighting equipment, with military beacons emitting two white flashes alternating with green light flashes at a frequency of 16-20 times per minute.

In some cases, civilian aircraft operations are permitted in military airports, and these airports are known as joint-use airports. Joint-use airports offer economic benefits to both the government and civilians by sharing airport facilities. Examples of joint-use airports in the US include Blackstone AAF (Ft. Pickett), VA, and Robert Gray AAF, Ft. Hood/Killeen, TX.

According to the 2011-2015 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), there are over 19,700 airports in the United States, with 5,170 open to the general public and 503 serving commercial flights. The large number of airports in the US can be attributed to the vast size of the country, which makes domestic air travel a popular choice for long-distance travel.

Commercial airports

The United States boasts an extensive network of airports, with a vast number of both public and private aviation facilities. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plays a pivotal role in overseeing and categorizing these airports.

When it comes to commercial airports, the FAA has specific criteria for classification. Airports that offer scheduled passenger services and witness more than 10,000 passenger boardings annually fall under the category of "primary airports." These primary airports are further categorized into four distinct hub types based on passenger enplanements:

• Large Hub: Accounting for at least 1% of total US passenger enplanements, typically accommodating 18.5 million or more passengers annually.
• Medium Hub: Handling between 0.25% and 1% of total US passenger enplanements, generally serving around 3.5 million to 18.5 million passengers each year.
• Small Hub: Catering to between 0.05% and 0.25% of total US passenger enplanements, which equates to approximately 500,000 to 3.5 million passengers annually.
• Non-Hub: This category includes airports with less than 0.05% of total US passenger enplanements but still managing more than 10,000 annual enplanements.

According to the 2011-2015 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), there were over 19,700 airports in the US, with 5,170 open to the public and 503 of those serving commercial flights. The number of public-use airports has decreased since 1990, while the count of private airports has risen. In 2022, there were 5,193 public airports, a reduction from the 5,589 public airports in operation in 1990. Conversely, private airports increased from 11,901 to 14,776 during the same period.

Domestic airports

The United States boasts an extensive network of airports, with over 19,700 airports across the country, according to the 2011-2015 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). Of these, 5,170 airports are open to the general public, and 503 serve commercial flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies airports with scheduled passenger services and more than 10,000 passenger boardings annually as "primary airports".

These primary airports are further categorized into four "hub" types based on passenger enplanements: Large Hubs, Medium Hubs, Small Hubs, and Nonhubs. Large Hubs, such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest domestic airport in 2021, accommodate at least 1% of total US passenger enplanements, typically 18.5 million passengers or more. Medium Hubs handle between 0.25% and 1% of total enplanements, ranging from 3.5 million to 18.5 million passengers. Small Hubs facilitate between 0.05% and 0.25% of total enplanements, usually serving around 500,000 to 3.5 million passengers. Lastly, Nonhubs account for less than 0.05% of total US passenger enplanements but still exceed 10,000 annual enplanements.

The large number of airports in the US can be attributed to the country's vast geographical expanse, with a significant proportion of flights being domestic due to the considerable distances involved in travelling across North America. As a result, both popular and smaller airports experience a substantial volume of air travellers. The US is home to some of the busiest airports worldwide, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport handling 34.1 million domestic passengers in 2021, showcasing the significant role of aviation in the country's transport landscape.

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