Airports Galore: Which City Boasts The Most?

London and New York City are the cities with the most airports in the world, with six commercial airports each. London's airports include Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Stansted, Luton, and Southend. New York City's airports include John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark-Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Long Island MacArthur Airport, New York Stewart International Airport, and Westchester County Airport. Other cities with multiple airports include Tokyo, Moscow, Stockholm, Boston, Melbourne, Paris, and Los Angeles. These cities have a range of four to five airports, catering to both international and domestic flights.

London has the most airports in the world, with six in total

London has the most international airports in the world, with six in total. These are London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, and London Southend. London's airports constitute the busiest airport system in the world by passenger numbers and the second-busiest by aircraft movements. In 2018, the six airports handled a total of 177 million passengers, which amounts to over 60% of all the UK's air traffic. Heathrow, the largest and most famous of London's airports, is a major hub for flights across the North Atlantic and is the most popular arrival point for flights from the United States. It is also London's long-distance hub, serving six continents around the world.

London's second-busiest airport, Gatwick, is the second-busiest in the United Kingdom, the eighth-busiest in Europe, and the second-busiest single-runway airport in the world. Stansted, London's third-busiest airport, is the fourth-busiest in the United Kingdom and the largest operational base for Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost carrier. Luton, the fifth-busiest airport in the country, is located north of London and is a base for low-cost carriers like easyJet and Wizz Air. Lastly, London City Airport is one of the smaller London airports, with a single runway, and is the closest to central London. It is frequently used by business travellers and is the only airport that does not operate during the night.

New York is second, with six airports, three of which are the main airports

New York City is served by six commercial airports, three of which are the main airports. The three main airports are John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). These three airports have been operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey since 1947 and are extremely congested. In 2014, they were used by over 117 million passengers.

In addition to the three main airports, New York is also served by three smaller, more distant airports. These are Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), New York Stewart International Airport (SWF), and Westchester County Airport (HPN). New York Stewart International Airport is located about 71.5 miles north of New York City and is the furthest airport from the city on this list. Long Island MacArthur Airport, on the other hand, is located about 44 miles east of Manhattan in Suffolk County and is served by low-cost carriers such as Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, and Breeze Airways. Westchester County Airport is located about 33 miles north of the city, along the border with Connecticut, and sees service to about a dozen destinations.

Moscow, Tokyo, and Stockholm each have four airports

London and New York City share the distinction of having the most airports among cities worldwide, with six commercial airports each. However, Moscow, Tokyo, and Stockholm each have four airports, making them stand out among cities with multiple aviation hubs.

Moscow's Airports

Moscow, a bustling metropolis and the capital of Russia, boasts four busy international airports. These include two larger airports, Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) and Domodedovo International Airport (DME), as well as two smaller airports, Zhukovsky International Airport (ZIA) and Vnukovo International Airport (VKO). All four airports are located within a 40-kilometer radius of the city, making them conveniently accessible for travellers.

Tokyo's Airports

Tokyo, the vibrant capital of Japan, also operates four distinct airports. Two of these are major international airports, Narita and Haneda, which serve as the primary gateways to the city. Additionally, Tokyo has two smaller airports, Ibaraki and Chofu. Ibaraki Airport is situated further from the city centre and caters to low-cost, domestic, and regional flights. In contrast, Chofu Airport, being centrally located, offers limited scheduled services to the Izu Islands.

Stockholm's Airports

Stockholm, the elegant capital of Sweden, completes the list of cities with four commercial airports. The primary international gateway is Stockholm Arlanda Airport, which handles a significant volume of air traffic. Supporting Arlanda are three additional airports: Bromma Airport, Skavsta Airport, and Vasteras Airport. Each of these airports contributes to Stockholm's comprehensive aviation infrastructure.

While not the sole leaders in airport numbers, Moscow, Tokyo, and Stockholm stand out for their efficient management of multiple aviation hubs, catering to a diverse range of travellers and reinforcing their positions as prominent global cities.

Oslo has three airports, one of which is very remote

Oslo, the capital of Norway, is served by three airports: the primary airport, Oslo Airport, and two smaller airports, Oslo Airport, Fornebu, and Hurum. Oslo Airport, located about 47 kilometres (29 miles) from the city centre, is the primary airport and offers extensive public transport services to the city. It has one of the world's highest levels of public transport usage, with nearly 70% of passengers using public transport to and from the airport. The airport is connected to the city by the Gardermoen Line, which runs in a tunnel below the airport facilities, and the Flytoget airport express train, which operates to Oslo Central Station six times per hour. The airport also has commuter and regional train services to other parts of Norway.

Oslo Airport, Fornebu, is a smaller airport that previously served as the main airport for the city. During World War II, the airport was taken over by the Luftwaffe, who built the first proper airport facilities, including two crossing runways. After the war, the airport served as a reserve airport for Oslo Airport, Fornebu, and all intercontinental traffic was routed through Gardermoen until a longer runway could be built at Fornebu. Today, Fornebu is located within the city of Oslo, on the western shore of the Oslofjord, and is much closer to the city centre than the main Oslo Airport.

Hurum airport is located in Hurum, a municipality in Viken county, Norway. It is the smallest and most remote of the three airports serving Oslo. Hurum airport is known for its challenging weather conditions, particularly during the winter months when super-cooled rain and freezing fog can cause issues for aircraft engines and require the use of deicing fluids.

While Oslo is served by three airports, one of which is very remote, other cities around the world have a higher number of airports. For example, London has the busiest city airport system in the world, and Atlanta, Georgia is home to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic since 1998, excluding 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Los Angeles has five airports, all within 70km of the city

Los Angeles is served by five airports with commercial air service, all within 70km of the city. The primary international airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area is Los Angeles International Airport, commonly referred to as LAX. Located in the Westchester neighbourhood, it is about 18 miles (30km) southwest of Downtown Los Angeles. LAX is the world's busiest origin and destination airport and serves as a hub for seven airlines, more than any other airport in the US.

The second-busiest airport in the region is John Wayne Airport, an international airport located in Orange County. It served 10.7 million passengers in 2019. The third-busiest airport in the region is Hollywood Burbank Airport, which only handles domestic air service. The airport in Ontario, California, is a more convenient option for residents in the Inland Empire and the eastern San Gabriel Valley. Lastly, Long Beach Airport is the least busy of the airports in the area.

In addition to these five airports, there is also a major cargo airport, four military airfields, and two dozen general aviation airports in the Greater Los Angeles area.

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