Airports Worldwide: Current Count And What It Means

The UK has over 40 airports, some of which are among the busiest in Europe. London alone is serviced by six major international airports, making it one of the most accessible city hubs in the world. London Gatwick Airport is the second busiest airport in the UK and the eighth busiest in Europe, serving 32,835,381 passengers in 2022. Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in the UK.

There are over 13,000 airports in the US

There are over 19,700 airports in the US, including everything from small airstrips to large international hubs. Of these, 5,170 are open to the general public, and 503 serve commercial flights. The US has an extensive air transportation network, with 16 of the world's 50 busiest passenger airports, including the top five. In 2013, 86 airports in the US handled over 1,000,000 passengers each.

The US has a large number of airports due to the considerable distance that would need to be travelled by car to get across the country. This contributes to a large amount of air travel through both popular and smaller airports.

The busiest airport in the US is Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is also the busiest in the world. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in North Carolina is also one of the busiest airports in the country, with a 14.6% increase in aircraft movements in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

More than 10,000 of these are private or smaller airports

As of 2021, there are over 13,000 airports in the US, with more than 10,000 of these being private or smaller airports. The number of private airports has been increasing in recent years, with the number rising from 11,901 in 1990 to 14,776 in 2022.

The number of public airports in the US has been decreasing since 1990, with 5,193 public airports in 2022 compared to 5,589 in 1990.

It is believed that there are over 40,000 airports worldwide, as many countries have similar airport configurations to the US, with a mix of private and public airports. Considering there are approximately 200 countries in the world, an average estimate of 200 airports per country would give about 40,000 airports.

There are approximately 40,000 airports worldwide

It is believed that there are over 40,000 airports worldwide. This is a tough estimation, as the number of airports varies from country to country. However, considering there are approximately 200 countries in the world, an average estimate of 200 airports per country would give around 40,000 airports.

In the United States, there are over 13,000 airports, with more than 10,000 of these being private or smaller airports. The number of public-use airports in the US has fallen since 1990, but the number of private-use airports has increased. In 2022, there were 5,193 public airports in the US, a decrease from the 5,589 public airports operating in 1990. Conversely, the number of private airports increased over this period from 11,901 to 14,776.

There are around 5,193 public airports in the US

The United States has an extensive air transportation network, with around 5,193 public airports. This includes both commercial service airports and general aviation airports.

The US is home to over 19,700 airports, including tiny airstrips and sprawling hubs. Of these, 503 serve commercial flights. There are also 483 international airports spread across the country.

The civil airline industry is entirely privately owned and has been largely deregulated since 1978, while most major airports are publicly owned. The three largest airlines in the world by passengers carried are US-based. Of the world's 50 busiest passenger airports, 16 are in the United States, including the top five and the busiest, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The number of private airports in the US has increased to 14,776

The US has an extensive air transportation network, with over 19,700 airports in total. This includes everything from tiny airstrips in the middle of nowhere to sprawling hubs of chaos. There are 483 international airports spread across the country.

Of the 19,700 airports, 5,170 are open to the general public and 503 serve commercial flights. However, the distinction between public and private use airports refers to usage, not ownership. A public use airport is defined by the FAA as 'an airport available for use by the general public without a requirement for prior approval of the airport owner or operator', whereas prior approval is required for private use airports.

As of February 2020, there were 5,842 private heliports in the US.

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