Lois Larson
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the largest airport in the US, spanning 4,700 acres of land. It serves as a hub for 37 airlines and offers 220 destinations, with around 55.4 million passengers and 734,771 tons of cargo moved annually. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), on the other hand, is the busiest international airport on the West Coast and the fourth busiest airport in the country. It serves as a hub for four legacy airlines and offers flights to over 150 cities on six continents. While LAX is indeed impressive, it falls short in size compared to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, which holds the top position as the busiest passenger airport worldwide since 1998.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest airport in the US | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Busiest airport in the world | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Number of destinations | 220 |
| Number of passengers served annually | 55.4 million |
| Number of airlines | 37 |
| Number of starts and landings in 2023 | 775,818 |
| Number of passengers in 2023 | 105 million |
| Amount of cargo in 2023 | 734,771 tons |
| Busiest airport on the West Coast | LAX |
| Busiest international airport in Washington, D.C. | LAX |
| Number of airlines using LAX as a hub | 4 |
| LAX's position among busiest airports in the US | 4th |
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What You'll Learn
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the largest airport in the US
- LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the US
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the busiest airport worldwide since 1998
- LAX serves as a hub for four legacy airlines
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport serves around 55.4 million passengers annually
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the largest airport in the US
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (IATA: ATL) is the largest airport in the US. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the airport covers 4,700 acres of land, which is equivalent to 7.3 square miles or 19 square kilometres.
The airport is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. It began as a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres of land that was once an abandoned auto racetrack called The Atlanta Speedway. The lease was signed on April 16, 1925, with the intention of developing the site into an airfield. The first flight into the then-named Candler Field landed on September 15, 1926.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic since 1998, except in 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dip in passenger numbers. In 2023, the airport recorded 775,818 arrivals and departures, serving about 105 million passengers and 734,771 tons of cargo. The airport has five parallel runways, three of which are 9,000 feet long, one is 10,000 feet long, and the longest measures 12,390 feet and can accommodate the Airbus A380.
In addition to its impressive size and traffic volume, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is also known for its efficient operations. For example, the "end-around taxiway," Taxiway Victor, allows planes landing on the northernmost runway to taxi to the gate area without interfering with other aircraft taking off, resulting in significant fuel cost savings.
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LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the US
Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, is the fourth busiest airport in the US. It is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area, in the US state of California. LAX is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of the city of Los Angeles, 18 miles (29 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles.
LAX is the busiest airport in the state of California and the fifth-busiest airport by passenger boardings in the US, as of 2022. In 2018, 78.5 million passengers used LAX, with 26,053,567 million international passengers, accounting for 30% of the airport's total passenger volume. In 2023, LAX handled 75,050,875 passengers, making it the eighth-busiest airport in the world. The airport operates around 700 non-stop flights daily to many destinations, with direct flights to approximately 75 international and 85 domestic destinations.
LAX is a hub for four legacy airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. It serves as the Pacific gateway to popular destinations, including Hawaii and Tokyo, with flights to over 150 cities on six continents. The airport covers 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land and has four parallel runways.
Despite being one of the busiest airports in the US, LAX lacks certain facilities. For example, plastic water bottles are banned at the airport, and it does not have direct access to a metro service. However, the Wall Street Journal has rated LAX as one of the best large airports in the US. To improve the passenger experience, LAX is undergoing a multi-billion-dollar capital improvement program, including initiatives such as an Automated People Mover and a Consolidated Rental Car facility.
While LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the US, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, is the busiest airport in the US. It serves approximately 105 million passengers annually and covers 4,700 acres of land, making it one of the largest airports in the world.
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the busiest airport worldwide since 1998
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also known as ATL, has been the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic since 1998, except in 2020 when travel was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2012, the airport accommodated over 100 million passengers and nearly one million flights, breaking down to approximately 260,000 passengers per day. The airport is the primary hub for Delta Air Lines, accounting for over 75% of its passengers. It is also a focus city for Frontier, Southwest, and Spirit Airlines.
The airport covers 4,700 acres of land and has five parallel runways. Three runways are 9,000 feet long, one is 10,000 feet, and the longest measures 12,390 feet, capable of handling the Airbus A380. In 2023, the airport saw 775,818 arrivals and departures, serving about 105 million passengers and 734,771 tons of cargo. The airport is the largest employment centre in Georgia, with about 55,300 employees and a payroll of $2.4 billion. It has a direct and indirect economic impact of $3.2 billion on the local and regional economy and an annual regional economic impact of more than $19.8 billion.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is located 10 miles south of the Downtown Atlanta district and is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. The airport began as a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres of abandoned auto racetrack, with the first flight arriving in 1926. In 1928, the airport's weather station became the official location for Atlanta's weather observations. The opening of the International Terminal in 2012 eliminated the need for all Atlanta-bound international passengers to go through TSA screening before exiting the airport.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta has been named the busiest airport in the world multiple times, topping the Airports Council International rankings in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, it was again named the busiest airport in the world, with a 2% increase in capacity compared to the previous year. The airport has two terminals and seven concourses, serving over 1,000 flights daily to 225 domestic and international destinations.
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LAX serves as a hub for four legacy airlines
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the largest airport in the United States, spanning 4,700 acres of land. It is also the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, serving around 55.4 million passengers annually. However, when it comes to the number of destinations offered, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) takes the lead with 260 destinations, despite serving fewer passengers.
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly known as LAX, is the fourth busiest airport in the country and the busiest international airport on the West Coast. It serves as a hub for four legacy airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. LAX offers flights to over 150 cities across six continents, making it a significant gateway to the Pacific region. Its chaotic atmosphere, characteristic of Los Angeles, surprisingly does not make travelling through LAX a miserable experience. In fact, it has been rated as one of the best large airports in the US by the Wall Street Journal.
LAX's ability to manage its high volume of traffic can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the airport has implemented various measures to ensure a positive travel experience for its passengers. For instance, recognising the importance of hydration, LAX encourages the use of reusable water bottles as plastic water bottles are banned within the airport premises. This simple measure not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also ensures that travellers remain comfortably hydrated during their time at the airport.
Secondly, the efficient management of air traffic is a crucial aspect of LAX's success. The airport handles a significant number of aircraft movements, with Delta Air Lines operating from multiple gates within the complex. The presence of multiple terminals, including the Tom Bradley International Terminal, enhances the airport's capacity to manage both domestic and international flights effectively.
In conclusion, despite not being the largest in terms of acreage, LAX serves as a crucial aviation hub on the West Coast, connecting passengers to destinations worldwide. Its role as a hub for four major airlines underscores its significance in the US aviation landscape. Through a combination of efficient management, passenger-centric amenities, and effective air traffic control, LAX successfully navigates the challenges posed by its high volume of travellers.
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport serves around 55.4 million passengers annually
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also known as ATL, has been the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998, with the exception of 2020 when travel was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport served over 104.6 million passengers in 2023, the most of any airport in the world.
The airport covers 4,700 acres of land and has five parallel runways. The complex includes the Domestic and International terminals and Concourses T, A, B, C, D, E, and F, with a total of 192 gates. The airport is located 10 miles south of the Downtown Atlanta district and is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.
Hartsfield-Jackson is the corporate headquarters and primary hub of Delta Air Lines, which accounts for over 75% of the airport's passengers. The airport has just over 1,000 flights a day to 225 domestic and international destinations, making it the world's largest airline hub. It is also an operating base for low-cost carriers Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.
The airport has a state-of-the-art rental car facility, with two four-story parking decks and more than 8,700 parking spaces. The Rental Car Center features 13 rental car agencies and is connected to the airport via the SkyTrain. The Plane Train, a shuttle service within the airport, operates every two minutes and carries more than 200,000 passengers per day.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the largest airport in the US, serving around 55.4 million passengers annually. LAX, however, is the busiest international airport on the West Coast.
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport covers 4,700 acres of land. It is the busiest passenger airport worldwide, serving around 105 million passengers and 734,771 tons of cargo annually.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport offers 220 destinations.
37 airlines operate from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
