Exploring America's Vast Aviation Network: Airports Count

The United States of America is served by a large number of airports. According to the 2011-2015 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), there are over 19,700 airports in the country, with 5,170 open to the general public and 503 serving commercial flights. The number of public-use airports has decreased since 1990, while the number of private-use airports has increased. In 2022, there were 5,193 public airports, down from 5,589 in 1990. The US also has several military airports, which are included in the public or private airport numbers.

The US has over 19,000 airports, the most in the world

The United States has a staggering number of airports—over 19,000 according to the 2011-2015 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). This includes both public and private airports, with the number of private airports increasing in recent years. In 2022, there were 5,193 public airports, a decrease from the 5,589 public airports operating in 1990. At the same time, the number of private airports increased from 11,901 to 14,776 during the same period.

The vast number of airports in the US can be attributed to several factors. One reason is the large geographic size of the country, spanning over 9,826,675 square kilometres. This makes domestic air travel a convenient and efficient option for many travellers, contributing to a high volume of air traffic.

Another factor is the diverse range of airport categories in the US. Airports are classified based on their role and passenger enplanements. The four categories defined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are Large Hub, Medium Hub, Small Hub, and Nonhub. Large hubs, such as Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, account for at least 1% of total US passenger enplanements, typically serving 18,500,000 or more passengers annually. Medium hubs account for between 0.25% and 1% of total passenger enplanements, while small hubs account for between 0.05% and 0.25%. Nonhub airports have less than 0.05% of total passenger enplanements but still serve more than 10,000 passengers per year.

The US also has a significant number of military airports. While not included in the NPIAS count, these sole-use military airports further contribute to the overall number of airports in the country.

The large number of airports in the US offers extensive connectivity and convenience for travellers, solidifying its position as a leader in aviation infrastructure worldwide.

There are 483 international airports in the US

The vastness of the United States, covering 9,826,675 square kilometres, means that there is a large number of airports serving the country. There are 483 international airports in the US, according to the 2011-2015 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). This number is part of the over 19,700 airports in the country, with 5,170 of these open to the general public and 503 of them serving commercial flights.

The number of public-use airports has decreased since 1990, while the number of private-use airports has increased. In 2022, there were 5,193 public airports, down from 5,589 in 1990. The number of private airports increased from 11,901 to 14,776 over the same period. The distinction between public and private use refers to usage, not ownership. A public-use airport is defined by the FAA as one "available for use by the general public without a requirement for prior approval of the airport owner or operator". By contrast, prior approval is required for private-use airports.

The US has a large number of airports due to the considerable distances between some cities and states, which would otherwise require long-distance driving. This contributes to a large amount of air travel through both popular and smaller airports.

Some of the busiest airports in the US by passenger numbers in 2019 include Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Denver International Airport.

The number of public airports in the US has decreased since 1990

The United States boasts an extensive network of airports, with the number of airports in the country often broken down into separate lists. As of 2022, there were 5,193 public airports in the US, a notable decrease from the 5,589 public airports operating in 1990.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines a public-use airport as one "available for use by the general public without a requirement for prior approval of the airport owner or operator". This is in contrast to private-use airports, which require prior approval. It's important to note that the distinction between public and private airports refers to usage and not ownership.

The number of public airports in the US has been on a downward trajectory since 1990, while the number of private airports has increased. This shift can be attributed, in part, to the significant decline in regional flights, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the decrease in public airports, air passenger traffic in the US has consistently increased over the last decade, with a rise in the number of domestic passengers, international travellers, and overall passenger-miles flown.

The US has a vast array of airports catering to different needs, with primary airports providing scheduled passenger services and handling over 10,000 passenger boardings annually. These primary airports are further categorised into four hub types based on their percentage of total US passenger enplanements.

The US also has a significant number of military airports, which serve both public and private use. While the focus here is on public airports, it's worth noting that the total number of airports in the US, including public, private, and military facilities, is over 19,700, as of the 2011-2015 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).

The busiest US airports include Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Denver International

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Denver International Airport are some of the busiest airports in the United States. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is the busiest airport in the world, with over 100 million passengers a year. It is conveniently located just a two-hour flight from many large American cities, making it an easy layover for connecting flights. It is also the main hub for Delta Airlines.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the busiest airport in the state of Texas. The airport spans more than 17,000 acres, bigger than the island of Manhattan, and has its own postal code and post office. It is a hub for American Airlines.

Denver International Airport is the largest airport by area in the United States, with more than 33,500 acres (or 54 square miles) of space. Many regional carriers, particularly Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines, connect to Denver International Airport. It is a common airport for travellers visiting the western states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and New Mexico.

In addition to being some of the busiest airports in the United States, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Denver International Airports are also among the largest airports in the country in terms of area. They feature multiple runways and terminals to accommodate the high volume of air traffic and have room for future expansion.

The high volume of passengers and flights at these airports can be attributed to their role as hubs for major airlines, convenient locations, and connections to other popular destinations.

New York City has the most airports of any US city, with 6

The United States has a vast number of airports, with over 19,700 in total. This includes public and private airports, heliports, seaplane bases, and facilities for other aerial hobbies. Breaking this down, there were 5,193 public airports in the U.S. in 2022, and 14,776 private airports in the same year.

New York City has the most airports of any U.S. city, with 6. These airports form the busiest airport system in the country and the second busiest in the world, after London. The three major airports in the New York metropolitan area are John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). These airports are all operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and, in 2014, they served over 117 million passengers. JFK is the largest and busiest of these airports, seeing over 62 million passengers per year.

In addition to these three major airports, the New York metropolitan area also includes several satellite or reliever airports, such as Long Island MacArthur Airport, Stewart International Airport, and Teterboro Airport, as well as numerous general aviation airports, heliports, and seaplane bases.

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