Us Airports: The Biggest Hubs And Their Secrets

The United States is home to some of the world's biggest and busiest airports. While Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the US and the world, it is not among the top ten biggest airports in the country in terms of surface area. Denver Airport is the largest airport in the US, covering 135 square kilometres, and is also the second-largest airport in the world. However, it is only the third busiest airport in the country, with Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airports taking the top three spots.

Denver International Airport: the largest airport in the US

Denver International Airport (DEN), also known as DIA by locals, is the largest airport in the US and North America by area. It covers 135.69km² (52.4 square miles) or 33,531 acres of land. To put that into perspective, it is larger than the city of Aurora, which is located closer to the airport than central Denver. The airport is also the largest employer in Colorado, with over 40,000 employees.

The airport has six runways, including the longest public-use runway in North America, which stretches 16,000 feet (3.03 miles or 4.88 km). There is even enough space for another six runways if needed. DEN has one terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, and three midfield concourses with a total of 169 gates in operation as of early 2025. The airport serves as a major hub for United Airlines and is the largest operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Denver International Airport is located on the western edge of the Great Plains, within sight of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. It is 25 miles (40 km) driving distance northeast of Downtown Denver. The airport is accessible by car via the 65-mph Peña Boulevard freeway or, for cyclists, the less-travelled rural 55-mph highway, 56th Avenue to Valleyhead Road. It is also connected to downtown Denver by the A Line rail service, with two intervening stations in Aurora.

Denver International Airport has been the subject of various conspiracy theories due to its isolated location, unusual art and architecture, and construction problems. These include rumours that the airport will be used as a prison by the New World Order or that it is controlled by Freemasons. The airport administration has chosen to embrace these theories rather than fight them.

John F. Kennedy International Airport: the busiest airport in North America

John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK, is the busiest airport in North America. Located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, JFK is the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area. The airport covers 5,200 acres of land, featuring five or six passenger terminals and four runways.

JFK is a hub for several major airlines, including American, Delta, and JetBlue. Over 90 airlines operate from the airport, offering nonstop or direct flights to destinations on all six inhabited continents. In 2019, the airport handled over 62.5 million passengers, making it the sixth-busiest airport in the United States.

The airport was originally named Detroit-Wayne Airport in 1930 and later became known as New York International Airport or Idlewild Airport when it opened in 1948. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the airport was renamed in his honour.

JFK Airport is known for its unique features, such as the ARK terminal, which is dedicated to pets and occupies 14.5 acres. The airport also has a variety of cargo facilities operated by different airlines, including DHL, FedEx Express, and Japan Airlines.

JFK Airport is accessible by car, bus, shuttle, or other vehicle transit via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678. It is located 16 miles southeast of Midtown Manhattan in the Jamaica neighbourhood of Queens.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: the busiest airport in the world for passenger volume

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world for passenger volume, serving 89 million passengers per year. In 1998, the airport accommodated 73.5 million travellers, gaining the title of the 'World's Busiest Airport' in passenger volume. The following year, it retained its title, handling over 78 million passengers and more than 900,000 landings and takeoffs. In 2012, Hartsfield-Jackson was once again recognised as the world's busiest airport, with a record 83.6 million passengers passing through.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has won numerous awards, including the Air Transport Research Society's Global Airport Efficiency Excellence Award for eight consecutive years. The award reflects the airport's productivity, efficiency and low costs, including the lowest passenger costs for airlines. In 2024, the Airports Council International named Hartsfield-Jackson the "Best Airport Over 40 Million Passengers in North America" in the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. The airport has also been recognised for its amenities and food and beverage options, receiving awards from Travel Leaders Groups and The Moodie Report.

Hartsfield-Jackson's high passenger volume can be attributed to its role as a critical gateway between Europe and Asia. The airport serves 150 domestic and 78 international locations, offering 2,700 arrivals and departures daily. Its unique dual-terminal design and 'Plane Train', which connects all concourses, facilitate efficient passenger movement. The airport spans over 30 square miles, with five runways and plans for future expansion, including a new international terminal.

While Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest in terms of passenger volume, other airports, such as Denver International Airport, boast larger land areas. Denver International Airport covers 136 square kilometres, featuring six runways with room for expansion. However, Atlanta's high passenger volume and efficient operations have secured its place as the world's busiest airport for over two decades.

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport: the second-largest airport in the US

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, also known by its airport code DFW, is the second-largest airport in the United States. Located in the state of Texas, it serves the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region. With a vast expanse of 17,500 acres (27.3 square miles or 71 square kilometres), it was once the largest airport in the world in terms of land area when it opened in 1974. While it has since been surpassed by other airports, DFW remains an impressive aviation hub.

The airport is a major gateway, ranking as the sixth-busiest international gateway in the United States and the second-busiest in the state of Texas, behind Houston-IAH. In 2022 and 2023, it was even recognised as the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, according to the Airports Council International. This is hardly surprising, given that DFW offers an extensive network of 254 destinations, including 191 domestic and 63 international routes, served by 28 passenger airlines.

As the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport, DFW holds significant importance for the carrier. The airline's hub at DFW is the second-largest single airline hub in the United States, only surpassed by Delta Air Lines' hub in Atlanta. DFW's connectivity extends beyond just passenger travel, as it also boasts an impressive cargo operation.

The airport's infrastructure includes seven runways, with the recent major rehabilitation of Runway 17R/35L, one of the largest at the airport. Additionally, DFW has four original terminals, numbered 2W, 2E, 3E, and 4E, and is currently constructing Terminal F, which will be its sixth terminal. The airport is also undergoing a $9 billion capital improvement plan called "DFW Forward," which aims to transform terminals, add new facilities and amenities, increase gates, improve roadways, and enhance the airfield.

DTW: featured in films such as 'Up in the Air' and 'Grosse Pointe Blank'

The Detroit Metropolitan Airport, also known as Detroit Metro Airport, DTW, or Detroit-Wayne Airport, is one of the largest airport hubs in the US. It is the busiest airport in the state of Michigan, with six runways, and Delta's main hub for traffic to Asia. DTW has been featured in several films, including Up in the Air (2009) and Grosse Pointe Blank (1997). The airport's light tunnel, which resembles an underground dance club, is one of its most iconic features.

DTW was originally named Detroit-Wayne Airport in 1930, and it has steadily expanded over the years from just one square mile of land to the over 4,850 acres it occupies today. In 1947, Wayne County expanded the airport to become Detroit's primary airport, and it was renamed Detroit-Wayne Major Airport. In the following three years, the airport expanded threefold with the addition of three more runways. In 1958, the airport received new long-range radar equipment, becoming the first inland airport in the US certified for jet airliners.

The airport has played a pivotal role in the development of the region's economy. It has served as a major hub for several airlines, including Northwest Airlines from 1986 to 2010, which later merged with Delta Air Lines. DTW became Delta's second-largest hub, and the airline has since established it as its main hub for traffic to Asia. In 2011, Lufthansa launched a unique curbside check-in and baggage check service from DTW's North Terminal to Frankfurt and beyond, making DTW their first North American gateway with this service.

Despite Detroit's economic downturn during the Great Recession, which led to some airlines dropping flights or using codeshare flights, DTW has rebounded, and airlines are now looking to expand or resume service. JetBlue Airways began flights to Boston in 2014, and Spirit Airlines has also grown at DTW, increasing its market share to over 10%. In 2018, the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART Bus) began providing a direct connection from the airport to the Rosa Parks Transit Center in downtown Detroit, making it more accessible than ever.

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