Domestic Air Travel: Exploring America's Vast Airport Network

The United States has a large number of airports, with over 19,000 in total. These include public and private airports, with more than 5,000 being open to the public. Of these, 503 airports serve commercial flights. The US has the most airports in the world, and the number of international airports is around 150.

The busiest airport in the US is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with 50.9 million passengers. The largest airport in the US by land area is the Denver International Airport.

The busiest US airports

The US is home to over 5,000 public airports, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport being the busiest. In 2024, the airport handled 62.7 million seats, earning it the title of the busiest airport in the world for the second year in a row.

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia – 50.9 million passengers
• Los Angeles International Airport, California – 40.9 million passengers
• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Texas – 39.2 million passengers
• Denver International Airport, Colorado – 37.8 million passengers
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Illinois – 35.8 million passengers
• New York JFK International Airport, New York – 30.8 million passengers
• Orlando International Airport, Florida – 28 million passengers
• Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport, Nevada – 27.8 million passengers
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport, North Carolina – 25.8 million passengers
• Miami International Airport, Florida – 24.7 million passengers

The busiest airports in the US are also some of the biggest airports in the world, with incredible amounts of foot and flight traffic.

The biggest US airports

The US has over 5,000 public airports, with 503 of these serving commercial flights. The number of airports in the US varies depending on how you define an airport, but there are thought to be around 19,700 airports in total.

Denver International Airport, Colorado (DEN)

Covering 135.69km² (52.4 square miles), this is the largest airport in the US and North America. It has six runways, one of which is the longest in the US available for public use at 16,000ft. The airport has one terminal, three concourses, and 179 gates.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas (DFW)

At 69.63km² (26.9 square miles), this airport is as big as a city and has its own zip code. It has five terminals, seven runways, and 174 gates.

Orlando International Airport, Florida (MCO)

This airport covers 53.83km² (20.8 square miles) and has four runways, two terminals, and 129 gates.

Washington Dulles International Airport, Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Washington Dulles International Airport covers 52.6km² (20.3 square miles) and has one main terminal, four concourses, and 113 gates.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas (IAH)

At 40km² (15.6 square miles), this airport has five terminals, five runways, and 131 gates.

Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah (SLC)

Covering 31.16km² (12 square miles), this airport has one terminal, two concourses, and 68 gates.

O'Hare International Airport, Illinois (ORD)

Spanning 30.86km² (11.9 square miles), O'Hare International Airport has four terminals, nine concourses, and 213 gates.

San Francisco International Airport, California (SFO)

This airport covers 21.07km² (8.14 square miles) and has four terminals and 115 gates.

John F Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK)

New York's biggest airport, John F Kennedy International Airport, covers 21.04km² (8.1 square miles) and has five terminals, four runways, four helipads, and 130 gates.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Michigan (DTW)

The 10th largest airport in the US covers 19.6km² (7.5 square miles) and has two terminals, six runways, and 129 gates.

Best airports by traveller survey

There are over 5,000 public airports in the United States, with 503 of them serving commercial flights. The busiest airport in the US is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with 50.9 million passengers in 2023.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Georgia

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is not a particularly busy airport, but its small size and town square-inspired layout make it feel intimate and inviting. The airport has been named the "happiest" in the country.

LaGuardia Airport, New York

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) has transformed from one of the world's most loathed airports to one of the best, thanks to an $8 billion renovation. The new Terminal C is bright and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows, and the expansive Terminal B has three times the space for security checks.

Indianapolis International Airport, Indiana

Indianapolis International Airport (IND) has long been a favourite among travellers, even as it has grown to accommodate nearly 10 million passengers a year. Travellers praise its outstanding design features, convenient shopping and dining options, and overall efficiency.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) has continued to score high with readers for its extensive food, dining, and entertainment options. It also received praise for being easy to navigate, with travellers finding it easy to move within and locate the correct gates and amenities.

Portland International Airport, Oregon

Portland International Airport (PDX) is loved by readers for being easy to access, not just by road but also by bike paths and a MAX light rail line. It offers travellers a chance to sample Portland specialties, like Stumptown Coffee Roasters and local whiskeys at the House Spirits Tasting Room. The airport also has a 17-seat movie theatre screening short films 24/7, free of charge.

T.F. Green Airport, Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s T.F. Green Airport (PVD) is praised by flyers as a "great little airport" that is easy to reach and navigate. More than two-thirds of New England's population lives within a 75-minute drive of the Providence airfield. It has been growing steadily in recent years and is well-positioned to benefit from a resurgence in domestic air travel.

Hartford Bradley International Airport, Connecticut

Hartford Bradley International Airport (BDL) has become an attractive alternative to flying out of New York’s and Boston’s larger hubs, thanks to a recent surge in new flights, including the arrival of Breeze Airways. Customers praise the airport's convenient on-site parking, plentiful charging stations, free Wi-Fi, and relaxed atmosphere.

Palm Beach International Airport, Florida

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is tiny compared to its busy rival, Ft. Lauderdale, with an annual passenger count of under 7 million. However, travellers appreciate the ease of getting in and out, the lack of lines and crowded gates, and the plentiful food and beverage options.

Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is only going to improve, with the completion of a new phase of renovations. It is one of the most important airports in the US, serving millions of passengers each year.

Tampa International Airport, Florida

Tampa International Airport (TPA) has received $1 billion worth of upgrades, making it more accessible than ever. A new SkyConnect people-mover system, with high-tech trains from Japan, has been introduced, along with automated e-gates and new public artworks.

International airports in the US

The United States has over 5,000 public airports, with 503 of these serving commercial flights. These airports are broken down into separate lists, including public-use and military airports in each state and territory. Airports that provide scheduled passenger services and have over 10,000 passenger boardings per year are classified as primary airports by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport, with 93.7 million passengers in 2021. The airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 is the Domestic Terminal, and Terminal 2 is the International Terminal. It is located only 8.2 miles from Atlanta.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the second busiest airport in the US, serving over 30 million passengers in 2021. The airport has five terminals: Terminals A, B, and C handle domestic flights, while Terminals D and E handle domestic and international flights. The airport is located 7.7 miles from Irving.

Denver International Airport, Colorado

Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the US, covering an area of 135.69 km2. It served 69 million passengers in 2021, making it the third busiest airport in the country. The airport has one terminal, The Jeppesen Terminal, and three midfield concourses: Concourse A, B, and C, with a total of 179 gates. It is located 22.4 miles from Denver.

O'Hare International Airport, Illinois

O'Hare International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in the world and a significant hub for American Airlines and United Airlines. The airport has four terminals and is located 16.9 miles from Chicago.

Los Angeles International Airport, California

Los Angeles International Airport, also known as LAX, is a major international gateway to the US. It is located 19.4 miles from Los Angeles and has eight terminals.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport, North Carolina

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, according to Airport Council International's rankings for 2021. It has one central terminal and five concourses and is located 6 miles from the central business district.

Dulles International Airport, Virginia

Dulles International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the US, with 113 airline gates and a total land area of 52.6 km2. The airport has one main terminal and four parallel concourses. It is located 0.5 miles from Saarinen Cir.

Orlando International Airport, Florida

Orlando International Airport is a large hub airport, serving close to 20 million passenger boards in 2021. The airport has one main terminal and four airside concourses. It is located very close to Colorado, just 0.5 miles away.

Harry Reid International Airport, Nevada

Harry Reid International Airport serves the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, and is a hub for Allegiant Air and a focus city for Southwest Airlines. The airport has two terminals and is located 12.6 miles from Las Vegas.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the US and serves as a base for Southwest Airlines and a hub for American Airlines. The airport has two terminals and is located 3.7 miles from Phoenix.

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Washington

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, also known as SeaTac, is the largest airport in the Pacific Northwest region of the US. It serves Seattle, Tacoma, and all Seattle metropolitan areas. It is a hub for Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines and is located 13 miles from Seattle.

John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York

John F. Kennedy International Airport, also known as JFK, is one of seven airports in the New York airport system. It is located 6.2 miles from Queens and 26 miles from New York City. The airport has five terminals.

Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey

Newark Liberty International Airport is located 9 miles west-southwest of Manhattan in New York City. It is a major gateway to South America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia and has three terminals.

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is one of the most travelled airports in the US, supporting a considerable number of jobs. The airport has two terminals and is located 11.8 miles from the city of Minneapolis.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Michigan

Detroit Metropolitan Airport is one of the major airports in the US, receiving over a thousand flights per day connecting four continents. The airport has two terminals and is located 3.4 miles from Romulus.

Logan International Airport, Massachusetts

Logan International Airport is one of the top 20 major American airports and is considered the busiest airport in the US, despite leaving the second smallest footprint. It has four terminals and is located 1.4 miles from East Boston.

Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah

Salt Lake City International Airport is one of the most important airports in the US, serving millions of passengers each year. It has one terminal with two concourses and is located 7.7 miles from East Boston.

Philadelphia International Airport, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia International Airport is a major airport serving over a hundred destinations worldwide. It has six terminals and is located 12.1 miles from Philadelphia.

Domestic airports with the most international flights

There are over 5,000 public airports in the United States, and some of these are among the biggest and busiest in the world. Here is a list of domestic airports with the most international flights:

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, is the most connected airport in the United States. It serves 199 destinations and has more than 43,300 connections. Delta Air Lines has the most connections at JFK, making up 35% of the traffic. The airport has five terminals and is 6.2 miles from Queens and 26 miles from New York City.

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Chicago O'Hare International Airport has more than 55,000 connections to 282 destinations. The airport has four terminals and is 16.9 miles from Chicago. It is a significant hub for American Airlines and United Airlines.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has more than 46,600 connections to 246 destinations. The airport has two terminals, one for domestic flights and one for international flights. It is the world's busiest airport, serving 93.7 million passengers in 2021, and is located 8.2 miles from Atlanta.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Los Angeles International Airport is a major international gateway to the United States. It has eight terminals and is 19.4 miles from Los Angeles.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the second busiest airport in the United States, serving over 30 million passengers in 2021. It has five terminals and is located 7.7 miles from Irving, Texas.

Denver International Airport (DEN)

Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the United States, covering 135.69 km2. It served 69 million passengers in 2021 and is located 22.4 miles from Denver. The airport has one terminal and three midfield concourses, with a total of 189 gates.

Frequently asked questions