The Largest Airports: A Global Infrastructure Race

Airports are marvels of human engineering, connecting people from all over the world. They vary in size, with some being small, regional airports, and others being large, international hubs. But which airport is the biggest in the world? This paragraph aims to introduce the topic of the world's biggest airport, exploring the different factors that contribute to an airport's size, such as passenger traffic, runway length, and physical dimensions. By examining these aspects, we can gain a better understanding of the scale and impact of the largest airports on our global transportation network.

Longest runways

Runway length is influenced by several factors, including altitude and temperature. Airports located at high altitudes require longer runways because thinner air reduces aircraft performance, necessitating more runway length for take-off and landing. Similarly, colder temperatures at high altitudes can impact aircraft performance, requiring additional runway length.

The Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport in Russia and Shigatse Peace Airport in China share the title for the world's longest runway at 5,000 meters (16,404 feet). Ulyanovsk Vostochny Airport, located in the Ulyanovsk Oblast about 30km from the city of Ulyanovsk, is known for serving as a cargo and test flight centre in Russia's aviation industry. Its lengthy runway can accommodate some of the largest aircraft, such as the Antonov An-124 and Boeing 747 freighters. The extended runway is also essential for aircraft testing and manufacturing, given the airport's proximity to aviation factories.

Shigatse Peace Airport, situated near the city of Shigatse (or Rikaze) in Tibet, China, is a dual-use civil and military airport. At an elevation of 3,800 meters (12,467 feet), it is one of the world's highest airports. The extended runway is crucial for operating in the region's thin air and mountainous terrain, ensuring safe take-offs and landings. The airport serves as a gateway to Tibet and Everest Base Camp, providing scheduled regional flights with a limited number of airlines.

While not the longest anymore, the Qamdo Bamda Airport in Tibet previously held the title of the world's longest runway at 5,500 meters (18,045 feet). However, the airport closed its longest runway for construction and replaced it with a new 4,500-meter (14,764 feet) runway, which is still considered one of the longest in the world.

Other notable mentions include Embraer Unidade Gavião Peixoto Airport in Brazil, with the third-longest runway at 4,967 meters (16,296 feet), and Upington Airport in South Africa, with a 4,900-meter (16,076 feet) runway, placing fourth in the world.

Highest airports

Airports located at high altitudes offer crucial transport links to remote communities in elevated locations. Typically, these airports are situated at altitudes exceeding 2,000m (6,500 ft) above sea level. The thin air at such altitudes poses unique challenges for aviation operations due to reduced air density and lower oxygen levels. Aircraft performance is affected, and pilots must carefully calculate takeoff and landing distances, as well as climb rates, to ensure safe operations.

El Alto International Airport, Bolivia

El Alto International Airport, located in the city of El Alto, 13-14 kilometres west of La Paz, Bolivia, is the highest international airport in the world. Sitting at an elevation of 4,061.5 metres (13,325 ft) above sea level, it is also the seventh-highest commercial airport worldwide and the highest outside of China. The airport has two runways, with the main runway measuring 4,000 metres (13,123 ft) in length, enabling operations of large aircraft at higher altitudes. Due to the thin air, most commercial wide-body aircraft cannot operate at full capacity from this airport. El Alto International Airport has been in service since the first half of the 20th century but was modernised in the 1960s and further expanded in the 1970s and 2006.

Changdu Bangda Airport, Tibet

Previously holding the top spot, Changdu Bangda Airport, also known as Qamdo Bamda Airport, is currently the world's second-highest commercial airport. It is situated at an elevation of 4,334 metres (14,764 ft) and serves the town of Qamdo (Changdu) in the Tibet Autonomous Region. The airport features the longest publicly used paved runway in the world, measuring 5,500 metres, to accommodate large aircraft and compensate for reduced engine performance during takeoff and landing at high altitudes. The oxygen level at the airport is only 50% of that at sea level, and it experiences extreme weather conditions, including strong winds and low temperatures.

Daocheng Yading Airport, China

Daocheng Yading Airport in China has been ranked as the highest airport in the world since 2013, with an altitude of 4,411 metres (14,471 ft) above sea level. It features a 4,200-metre-long and 45-metre-wide runway, and its terminal has a unique UFO-like shape, covering an area of 5,000 square metres.

Yushu Batang Airport, China

Yushu Batang Airport in Qinghai Province, Northwest China, is situated at an elevation of 3,890 metres. It significantly reduced travel time between Jiegu town of Yushu and Qinghai's capital, Xining, from 15 hours to just 70 minutes. The airport served 7,484 passengers during its first year of operation in 2009, and its capacity increased to 374,561 passengers in 2021.

Busiest airports

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, has consistently ranked as the world's busiest airport since 1998, except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, it handled 62.7 million seats, a 2% increase in capacity compared to 2023. Four of the top ten busiest global airports in 2024 were in the United States, with Dallas/Fort Worth in fifth place, Denver in sixth, Chicago-O'Hare in tenth, and Atlanta in the top spot.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has consistently ranked as the world's busiest international airport in recent years, including in 2024 and March 2025. In 2024, it handled 60.2 million seats, a 7% increase compared to 2023. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) was the second busiest international airport in 2024 and the busiest airport in Europe for that year, with 48.4 million seats. In March 2025, it retained its position as Europe's busiest airport with 4 million seats.

Singapore Changi Airport ranked as the third busiest international airport in March 2025, with 3.59 million seats, closely followed by Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) with 3.58 million seats. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) experienced a significant capacity increase of 15% compared to March 2024, jumping from ninth to sixth place.

Istanbul Airport (IST) has also been consistently ranked as one of the busiest airports in Europe, placing second in 2024 and March 2025. It saw a 5% increase in capacity in 2024 compared to 2023, handling 48.5 million seats. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) was the third busiest airport in Europe in 2024 and March 2025, with a 5% increase in capacity in 2024.

Biggest terminals

An airport terminal is a building where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from an aircraft. Smaller airports have one terminal, while larger airports have several terminals and/or concourses. The design of airport terminals has evolved over time, with a shift towards creating vast open interior spaces, maximising natural light, and providing direct highway access to the airport.

The largest airport terminal in the world, in terms of a single building, is located in Istanbul, Turkey. The Istanbul Airport (IST) boasts a unique layout, characterised by a hub-and-spoke design, with a central terminal and aircraft gates located along corridors leading from a common landside hub. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the terminal spans 7.5 million square feet and features a glass-and-steel design with an iridescent shell and convex skylights.

Another notable mention is the Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) in China, which has been described as an architectural wonder. The terminal features a one-of-a-kind design, resembling a starfish with six spokes. It offers a range of modern amenities, including robot helpers, hourly hotel rooms, and a passenger-friendly layout where gates are no more than an eight-minute walk away.

Additionally, some airports have distinct unit terminals that serve specific purposes, such as separating international and domestic travel or providing individual terminals for different airlines. Examples include the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, which utilises a similar design across multiple terminals, and the Pearson International Airport, which features completely different designs for each unit terminal.

Worst-rated airports

While some airports offer outstanding services, others fall short of providing a seamless journey. Factors such as long queues, outdated facilities, inadequate seating, poor customer service, and frequent flight cancellations can make certain airports a nightmare for travellers. Here is a list of some of the worst-rated airports in the world:

Kuwait International Airport (KWI/OKKK)

Located in Farwaniya, Kuwait International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the Gulf region. Travellers have reported issues such as limited toilet facilities, resulting in long queues, unreliable internet connectivity, and a lack of clear information about check-in zones and boarding gates. These problems contribute to an overall congested and chaotic experience, both inside and outside the terminal.

Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport (BVA/LFOB)

Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport, located fifty miles north of Paris, has been described as a "depressing low-cost box of an airport". It suffers from a lack of seating, inadequate services, and a general half-tent, half-warehouse atmosphere. Additionally, it lacks a direct rail link to Paris and closes overnight, adding to travellers' discomfort if flights are delayed.

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ/CYYZ)

Toronto's primary airport was ranked as the worst in the world in 2022. While it offers a wide variety of dining options, it falls short in terms of on-time performance, resulting in long wait times and chaotic baggage claim processes. Customers also report an overall poor standard of customer service, indicating that significant improvements are needed for the airport to move up in rankings.

Lisbon Airport (LIS)

Portugal's largest airport, located in the suburbs of Lisbon, has been ranked among the worst airports for two consecutive years. While it offers a decent selection of restaurants, cafes, and shops, it scores poorly in on-time performance, resulting in long wait times for passengers.

Malta International Airport (MLA)

Malta International Airport, serving the small Mediterranean archipelago, has been voted the worst airport in Europe. While it offers cuisines from various countries, the majority of cafes and restaurants cater primarily to Italian and British tastes, the airport's largest visitor groups. Poor on-time performance is the main factor that contributes to its low ranking among the world's worst-scoring airports.

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