Lois Larson
Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest airport in the US, with 50.9 million passengers and almost 1,000 flights daily. It has held this title since 1998, except in 2020 when air travel was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Atlanta Airport is also the busiest in the world for passenger volume, with 62.7 million seats available in 2024. However, Dubai International Airport is close behind, with 92.3 million passengers in 2024. While Atlanta is the busiest, it is not the largest airport in the US—that title goes to Denver.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest Airport in the US | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Second busiest airport in the US | Dallas Fort Worth International Airport |
| Third busiest airport in the US | Denver Airport |
| Number of US airports in the top 10 busiest airports in the world | 4 |
| Busiest airport in North America | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Second busiest airport in North America | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport |
| Third busiest airport in North America | Denver International Airport |
| Number of Florida airports in the top 10 busiest airports in North America | 2 |
| Busiest airport in the world | Dubai International Airport |
| Second busiest airport in the world | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Number of airports in the US | 1,251 |
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What You'll Learn
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
The airport's present midfield terminal complex was constructed in response to the significant increase in air traffic, replacing the 1961 terminal. Construction began in 1977 under the leadership of Mayor Maynard Jackson, with a cost of $500 million. The complex was designed by Stevens & Wilkinson, Smith Hinchman & Grylls, and Minority Airport Architects & Planners. To accommodate growing international air traffic, a southern extension of Concourse T opened in 1987, followed by Concourse E in 1994, just in time for Atlanta to host the 1996 Summer Olympics.
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Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
The airport is located between the major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas and spreads across portions of Dallas and Tarrant counties. It first opened for commercial service as Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport on January 13, 1974, at a cost of $875 million ($5.5 billion in 2024). At the time, it was the largest airport in the world in terms of land area, spanning 17,500 acres (27.3 square miles).
DFW Airport has undergone significant development and expansion over the years. In 2025, it celebrated the beginning of construction on Terminal F, marking the first new terminal construction since 2005. The airport also completed the rehabilitation of Runway 17R/35L, one of its largest runways, and announced a $9 billion capital improvement plan called "DFW Forward." This plan includes transforming terminals, adding new facilities and amenities, increasing the number of gates, and enhancing the airfield.
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Denver International Airport
Covering 52.4 square miles (136 km2; 33,500 acres), Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest in the world by land area. Its runway 16R/34L, at 16,000 feet (3.03 miles; 4.88 km), is the longest public-use runway in North America and the seventh-longest globally. The airport's single terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, named after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen, spans 2.6 million square feet. The terminal features a distinctive peaked roof designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects, resembling Colorado's snow-capped mountains and early Native American teepees on the Great Plains. A pedestrian bridge connects the terminal to Concourse A, offering travellers a unique perspective of planes taxiing below and views of the Rocky Mountains and high plains.
In 2023, the airport announced plans to expand the Jeppesen Terminal by 2045, increasing passenger capacity with additional check-in and TSA counters and adding new concourses with 100 gates.
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Chicago O'Hare International Airport
The history of O'Hare International Airport dates back to World War II when it served as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters. Known then as Orchard Place, the site was chosen for its easy access to the workforce in Chicago, railway connections, and distance from enemy threats. The airfield, called Douglas Airport, had four 5,500-foot (1,700 m) runways and saw the production of 655 C-54s.
In the post-war years, the City of Chicago recognised the need for additional airport capacity beyond the existing Chicago Municipal Airport, which had opened in 1926. As a result, O'Hare was developed, with scheduled passenger service commencing in 1955. However, airlines were initially reluctant to move to O'Hare, and growth was slow. It wasn't until the opening of its first international terminal in August 1958 and various improvements, including the construction of the Kennedy Expressway connecting to downtown Chicago, that O'Hare began to attract more airline operations.
O'Hare became famous during the jet age, holding the title of the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. In 2019, the airport recorded 919,704 aircraft movements, averaging 2,520 per day, a record attributed in part to the large number of regional flights. As of 2024, O'Hare is the most connected airport in the US and the fifth most connected globally, offering non-stop flights to 249 destinations across North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region.
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Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the US, with 50.9 million passengers and 341,835 flights per year. However, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is also one of the busiest airports in the country. It is located in Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory, within 10 miles of downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. The airport is centrally located and easy to navigate, with travellers praising the ease of moving within the airport and finding the correct gates and amenities.
MSP is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and serves as the home airport for Minnesota-based airlines Sun Country Airlines and Endeavor Air, a Delta subsidiary. Delta Air Lines and its affiliates account for about 70% of the airport's passenger traffic. The airport also hosts commercial flights from major American and some international airlines, as well as several United States Air Force and Minnesota Air National Guard operations. The airport is operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which manages six other smaller airports in the region.
MSP is the busiest airport in the Upper Midwest, playing a vital role in the Twin Cities' economy. It generates an estimated $15.9 billion annually and supports 87,000 workers. The airport has been recognised for its efficiency and customer satisfaction, ranking first among mega airports in the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Additionally, it has been praised for its noise mitigation programs, with the Metropolitan Airports Commission working closely with the community to reduce aircraft noise.
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Frequently asked questions
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the US, with 50.9 million passengers and 341,835 flights per year.
The other busiest airports in the US include:
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
- Denver International Airport
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
The biggest airport in the US is in Denver, which is also the third busiest.
The busiest airport in the world is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Dubai International Airport is also challenging for the title, with 92.3 million passengers and a seat capacity of over 60 million.
