Roberta Aguirre
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York is one of the largest airports in the United States, covering 21.04 square kilometres (8.1 square miles). It is New York's biggest airport and a significant portal to Europe, with a passenger count of about 62,440,306 in 2023. On the other hand, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the USA and the world, serving approximately 45 million passengers in 2022 and over 104.6 million passengers in 2023. It is also one of the major airports in the Midwest and offers 220 destinations. While JFK may be larger in terms of area, Atlanta Airport handles a significantly higher number of passengers and has more connections, making it the busiest airport globally.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Size | JFK: 21.04km² (8.1 square miles) |
| Atlanta Airport: Bigger than JFK, size unknown | |
| Passenger volume | JFK: 62,440,306 in 2023 |
| Atlanta Airport: 45 million in 2022, 55.4 million in 2023 | |
| Number of terminals | JFK: 10 |
| Atlanta Airport: Unknown | |
| Number of runways | JFK: Unknown |
| Atlanta Airport: Unknown | |
| Busiest airport in the world | JFK: No |
| Atlanta Airport: Yes |
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What You'll Learn
JFK is bigger than Atlanta Airport in terms of surface area
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York is bigger than Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in terms of surface area. JFK Airport spans 21.04 square kilometres (8.1 square miles) in the eastern borough of Queens, while Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, located in Clayton County, Georgia, serves as the busiest airport in the United States and one of the busiest airports in the world.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has consistently ranked as the busiest airport worldwide since 1998, handling over 104.6 million passengers in 2023. In contrast, JFK Airport, the ninth-largest airport in the nation and the biggest in New York, served approximately 62.4 million passengers in 2023.
Despite JFK Airport's larger size in terms of surface area, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport boasts an extensive network of connections, catering to a higher volume of passengers and serving as a crucial hub for global and North American air travel. The airport offers 220 destinations and is renowned for its efficient operations, solidifying its position as a leader in the aviation industry.
JFK Airport, however, holds its own significance as a significant portal to Europe and beyond. Its TWA Flight Center is a historic landmark, and the airport has undergone expansion plans to enhance its capacity and infrastructure. The airport's large size and expansion initiatives reflect the country's preference for air travel and the vital role airports play in the US economy.
In summary, while JFK Airport surpasses Atlanta's airport in terms of surface area, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport takes the lead as the busiest airport concerning passenger volume and connections. Both airports are pivotal to the US aviation industry, catering to vast numbers of travellers and contributing to the country's robust trade relations.
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Atlanta Airport is the busiest airport in the US
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the United States, and in the world. The airport welcomed 108 million passengers in 2024, up from 104 million the previous year. It has held this title since 1998, barring a brief period between noon and 2 pm each day in 1957.
The airport's success is due to several factors, including its geographic location, which makes it well-suited to serve much of the Eastern and Midwestern American population. Atlanta's mostly ice-free weather also contributes to its popularity. Additionally, the airport has benefited from significant investment and expansion over the years, including the use of leftover military materials from World War II to build a bigger terminal and new runways.
The airport covers an area of 21.04 km² (8.1 square miles), making it larger than New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport, which spans 8.1 square miles. JFK Airport is undergoing a $13 billion expansion plan, which includes two new terminals, a ground transport network, and upgrades to runways and security.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Atlanta's airport has continued to thrive and maintain its position as the busiest in the US. The airport is planning for $1 billion in upgrades and construction every year for the next decade to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and maintain its status as a leading global transportation hub.
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JFK has the most international flights of any US airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. It is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. With a size of 5,200 acres (2,104 hectares or 8.1 square miles), it is the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area.
JFK Airport is the busiest of the seven airports in the New York airport system, the sixth-busiest airport in the United States, and the busiest international commercial airport in North America. Over 90 airlines operate out of JFK Airport, with nonstop or direct flights to destinations on all six inhabited continents.
The airport features five passenger terminals and four runways. Terminal 1 is used by SkyTeam Alliance and other airlines for domestic and international services, while Delta Air Lines operates its main international flights from Terminal 4. Terminal 5 is managed by JetBlue Airways and is used by multiple airlines, including Aer Lingus, which offers pre-cleared immigration from Ireland. Terminal 8 is twice the size of Madison Square Garden and is used by American Airlines as a hub.
JFK Airport has a diverse range of international destinations. London Heathrow is its top international destination, with nearly twice as many flights as Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is the second most-served international destination from JFK. Other notable international routes include Frankfurt, Paris, Dubai, Amsterdam, Rome, Shanghai, and Munich.
JFK Airport also has an impressive list of airlines operating A380 aircraft, including Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Etihad Airways, and Emirates. In addition, the airport hosted the world's longest flight, Singapore Airlines Flights 23 and 24 (SQ23 and SQ24), which used the Airbus A350-900ULR between Singapore and New York JFK.
In terms of size, while I could not find a direct comparison between JFK and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), some sources indicate that ATL is busier in terms of passenger traffic. However, JFK's status as the busiest international commercial airport in North America suggests that it handles a significant number of international flights compared to other US airports, including ATL.
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Atlanta Airport has the most connections of any US airport
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world and has the most connections of any airport in the US. It is located in the eastern borough of Queens and serves as the headquarters and primary hub for Delta Airlines. Atlanta's central location makes it ideal for both domestic and international connections, particularly to Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The airport's proximity to the Caribbean and popular tourist destinations such as Florida and Texas further contributes to its high volume of flights.
In 2024, Delta Air Lines scheduled an average of 5,774 weekly flights from Atlanta, totaling 69,288 weekly departures. The airline's strong presence at the airport, along with its partnerships with Aeromexico, Air France, and KLM, contributes to the extensive route network offered by ATL.
While Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport ranks highly in terms of connections within the US, it is not the most connected airport globally. London Heathrow takes the top spot for international connectivity, followed by Frankfurt. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport ranked 8th globally in 2019.
Other well-connected US airports include Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), which is a hub for United Airlines, and Denver International Airport (DEN), which serves as a hub for several airlines, including United, Frontier, and Southwest. Miami International Airport (MIA) stands out for having more international destinations than domestic, with 110 international and 88 domestic destinations in total.
The US is known for its large airports, with US airports regularly appearing among the world's largest. The country's vast size and preference for air travel contribute to its airports handling an estimated half of the world's air traffic.
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JFK is New York's biggest airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is New York's biggest airport. Located in the eastern borough of Queens, it spans 21.04 square kilometres (8.1 square miles) and is the largest in the New York metropolitan area. With six terminals, 128 gates, four runways, and four helipads, it is a major international airport serving New York City and its surrounding areas.
JFK Airport is a hub for several major airlines, including American Airlines, JetBlue, and Delta Air Lines, and offers nonstop or direct flights to destinations on all six inhabited continents. It is accessible by car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit and is connected to the New York City Subway and the Long Island Rail Road via the AirTrain JFK rail network.
The airport first opened in 1948 as Idlewild Airport, named after a golf course that previously occupied the site. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the airport was renamed in his honour. Over the years, JFK has undergone various renovations and expansions to accommodate increasing air traffic.
In October 2018, a $13 billion expansion plan was announced, which included the addition of two new terminals, upgrades to runways and security systems, and improvements to the ground transportation network. With over 62 million passengers and 480,793 aircraft movements in 2023, JFK is not only New York's biggest but also the sixth-busiest airport in the United States and the busiest international airport in North America.
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Frequently asked questions
No. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the largest airport in the US and has been the busiest passenger airport worldwide since 1998. JFK, on the other hand, is the biggest airport in New York, spanning 21.04km² (8.1 square miles) in the eastern borough of Queens.
JFK served about 62,440,306 passengers in 2023.
JFK was originally built with ten terminals. Terminals 8 and 9 were merged into the new Terminal 8, which is twice the size of Madison Square Garden.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport served approximately 45 million passengers in 2022 and over 104.6 million passengers in 2023.
