Airports Galore: Which City Boasts The Most?

London and New York are the cities with the most airports in the world, with six airports each. London's Heathrow and Gatwick are the largest airports in the world, and the city also has London City, Stansted, Luton, and Southend airports. New York's three main airports are John F. Kennedy International, Newark-Liberty, and LaGuardia, with three smaller, more distant airports: Long Island MacArthur, New York Stewart International, and Westchester County Airport. Other cities with multiple airports include Tokyo, Moscow, Stockholm, Boston, Melbourne, Paris, and Los Angeles.

London has six airports, the most in the world

London shares the top spot with New York, which also has six commercial airports. However, London reports a higher total passenger volume. Outside of the US, several cities claim four airports, including Moscow, Tokyo, and Stockholm.

New York City has six airports, the most in the US

New York City has six airports, making it the US city with the most airports. The New York metropolitan area has the busiest airport system in the United States and the second busiest in the world after London. The three main airports serving New York City are John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). These three airports, all operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, served over 117 million passengers in 2014.

In addition to these three major airports, New York City is also served by three smaller, more distant airports. These are Long Island MacArthur Airport, New York Stewart International Airport, and Westchester County Airport. Long Island MacArthur Airport, also known as Islip Airport, is located in Suffolk County, about 44 miles (71 km) east of Manhattan. It is primarily served by low-cost carriers such as Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Frontier Airlines, and Breeze Airways, offering domestic flights, mostly to the southeast. New York Stewart International Airport is located about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of the city in Orange County, New York, making it the furthest airport from New York City on the list. From 2017 to 2019, it was the only secondary airport in the New York metro area offering flights to Europe. Westchester County Airport is located about 33 miles (53 km) north of the city, along the border with Connecticut. It serves around a dozen destinations and has seen significant growth in passenger numbers over the years.

The presence of six airports in and around New York City can be attributed to various factors, including the need to cater to the high demand for aviation in the region, as well as serving different airlines and city districts. The New York metropolitan area's airport system plays a crucial role in the region's economy and facilitates its status as a major global transportation hub.

Tokyo, Moscow, and Stockholm have four airports each

While it is unclear which city has the most airports, Tokyo, Moscow, and Stockholm have four airports each.

Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan's capital city, is served by four airports: Haneda, Narita, Kansai, and one other. Haneda Airport is the busiest airport in the city, serving 78.4 million passengers in 2023, averaging 214,000 daily passengers. Narita Airport is the second busiest airport in the city, experiencing a major increase in international flight passengers in 2023.

Moscow

Moscow, Russia's capital, is also served by four airports. These include Sheremetyevo International Airport, one of the busiest airports in Europe and Russia's busiest airport overall. Domodedovo International Airport is another one of Moscow's four airports and is the second-busiest airport in Russia.

Stockholm

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is served by four airports of varying sizes. Stockholm Arlanda Airport is the largest airport in Stockholm and Sweden, offering 107 non-stop routes, 87 of which are international, and 20 domestic. It is also the only airport in Stockholm with long-haul routes. Stockholm Bromma Airport, located 7.4 km from the city, is the fourth busiest airport in Sweden. It features a 1,668-meter-long runway and was the first airport in Europe to have paved runways from its opening day in May 1936.

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

Los Angeles has five airports, all within a 70km radius of the city. This makes it one of the cities with the most airports in the world, although it is surpassed by London, which has six airports. These include the well-known Heathrow and Gatwick, as well as London City, Stansted, Luton, and the lesser-known Southend Airport.

New York City also operates six airports, three of which are the major airports of John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport. The other three are smaller and more distant, but still within a reasonable distance of the city, including Long Island MacArthur Airport, New York Stewart International Airport, and Westchester County Airport.

Outside of the US, several cities claim four airports. These include Moscow, with its four busy international airports, all within 40km of the city. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, also has four airports, with two major international airports and two smaller, more distant airports that mostly serve domestic flights. Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, also has four airports, including Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Bromma Airport, Skavsta Airport, and Vasteras Airport.

Some cities with three airports include Oslo, with three airports that offer commercial flights, and Paris, whose fourth airport is 166km away from the Eiffel Tower.

Oslo has three airports, including one 119km from the city

While London and New York City top the list with six commercial airports each, Oslo stands out with an interesting airport configuration of its own. The city boasts three airports, one of which is located a considerable distance from the city centre.

Oslo's main airport is Oslo Airport (OSL), situated in the municipality of Ullensaker, about 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of the city. It is the largest airport in Norway and serves as a hub for Scandinavian Airlines, Norway's flagship carrier. Oslo Airport handles a significant volume of international and domestic flights, connecting the city to a wide range of destinations.

In addition to the main airport, Oslo is also served by two smaller airports. The first is Sandefjord Airport, Torp (TRF), located about 114 kilometres (71 miles) south of Oslo. Despite the distance, Torp airport is still considered an alternative airport option for Oslo. It primarily caters to low-cost carriers and offers a limited selection of international and domestic routes.

The third airport serving Oslo is Moss Airport, Rygge (RYG). This airport is located 60 kilometres (37 miles) south-east of Oslo and has a unique history. It initially served as a military airbase before being converted into a commercial airport in the early 2000s. However, Rygge airport ceased operations in 2016 due to financial challenges and has since been repurposed for other uses.

The presence of three airports, including one at a distance of 119 kilometres (74 miles), reflects Oslo's commitment to meeting the aviation demands of the region. Each airport plays a role in facilitating travel to and from the city, ensuring that Oslo remains well-connected to the rest of the world.

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