Roberta Aguirre
America's airports are some of the busiest in the world, with around 925 million passengers travelling by air in 2019. While Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world, it is not one of the biggest airports in the USA in terms of surface area. Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the USA, covering 135 square kilometres. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the second-largest airport in the USA, followed by Orlando International Airport.
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What You'll Learn
Denver International Airport: the largest in the US
Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the United States, covering a surface area of 135 square kilometres. In fact, it is the third-largest airport in the world, with only King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia and an unspecified airport in China surpassing it in size. Denver Airport, inaugurated in 1995, has 23 airlines operating out of it, serving about 215 destinations with 163 available gates, divided into three areas. In 2021, the airport handled 58.8 million passengers.
In comparison, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic, does not even feature in the top ten biggest US airports by surface area. Denver Airport is more than four times the size of Atlanta's 32 square kilometres.
The second-largest airport in the US is Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas. Despite being much smaller than Denver Airport, Dallas Airport handles about 70 million passengers annually, making it the 12th busiest airport in the world. Orlando Airport in Florida is the third-largest airport in the US, closely followed by Washington Dulles International Airport, which serves 24 million passengers a year.
Other large US airports include George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, which serves 45 million passengers a year; O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, which serves 80 million passengers a year; and San Francisco International Airport, which served 50 million passengers in 2023.
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Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: the second largest
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, also known as DFW Airport, is the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic as of 2022 and 2023. It is located between the major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas, with its address at 3200 E Airfield Drive DFW Airport, TX 75261. The airport covers portions of Dallas and Tarrant counties and includes parts of Grapevine, Irving, Euless, and Coppell.
The airport serves as the primary international airport for the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region. It is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered nearby. DFW Airport offers service to 254 destinations, including 191 domestic and 63 international locations, through 28 passenger airlines. As of April 2023, it has service to more nonstop destinations than any other airport in North America.
The history of DFW Airport dates back to proposals in the 1940s for a joint airport serving Dallas and Fort Worth. However, the project faced disagreements and was abandoned in 1942. After World War II, Fort Worth developed Amon Carter Field, later renamed Greater Southwest International Airport (GSW), but it failed to compete with Dallas' Love Field. In 1961, the joint airport proposal was revisited due to congestion at Love Field, and DFW Airport was established.
DFW Airport opened for commercial service on January 13, 1974, at a total cost of $875 million, including land and construction expenses. At the time, it was the largest airport in the world by land area, spanning 17,500 acres or 27.3 square miles. The airport featured four terminals and an innovative automated people mover system, later rebranded as the TrAAin.
Today, DFW Airport continues to expand and develop. It recently completed a major milestone in its $3 billion plan to expand Terminal C, which will add nine new gates in 2026. The airport also announced new shopping and dining options, including local Texas brands and first-of-their-kind concepts for U.S. airports. Additionally, DFW Airport is committed to sustainability and has become the largest carbon-neutral airport in the world.
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Washington Dulles International Airport: the fourth largest
Washington Dulles International Airport is the fourth-largest airport in the United States. Named after John Foster Dulles, the 52nd Secretary of State, the airport was inaugurated in 1962 and is located in the country's capital. Covering a large area, it handles 24 million passengers annually.
While Washington Dulles ranks fourth in terms of size, other airports surpass it in terms of passenger traffic. Atlanta International Airport, for instance, is the busiest airport in the world, although it is not among the top ten biggest airports in the USA by surface area. Denver International Airport claims this title as the largest airport in the USA, spanning an impressive 135 square kilometres.
Washington Dulles International Airport serves as a significant hub for air travel in the United States. With its vast size and passenger handling capabilities, it contributes to the country's reputation for high air passenger numbers. In 2019, the US recorded around 925 million air travellers, showcasing the integral role of aviation in intercity travel.
The airport in Washington, D.C. is not just a transportation hub but also a testament to the city's prominence. As the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C. is a focal point for political and diplomatic activities, and its airport facilitates the movement of government officials, diplomats, and visitors associated with these spheres.
Washington Dulles International Airport's ranking as the fourth-largest airport underscores the importance of aviation infrastructure in the United States. Its size and passenger volume reflect the country's commitment to accommodating the significant demand for air travel, solidifying its position as a leader in the global aviation industry.
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John F. Kennedy International Airport: New York's biggest
John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK, is New York's biggest airport. Located in the Jamaica neighbourhood of Queens, it is 16 miles southeast of Midtown Manhattan. The airport covers 5,200 acres, or 2,104 hectares, making it the largest in the New York metropolitan area.
JFK Airport is a major international airport, serving New York City and its metropolitan area. It is the busiest of the seven airports in the New York airport system, and the sixth-busiest airport in the United States. Over 90 airlines operate from JFK, offering nonstop or direct flights to destinations across all six inhabited continents.
The airport features five passenger terminals and four runways. There are also four helipads. In 2023, JFK handled over 62 million passengers and saw 480,793 aircraft movements. The airport is primarily accessible by road, via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678.
JFK Airport originally opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, and was commonly known as Idlewild Airport. Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the airport was renamed in tribute to him.
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George Bush Intercontinental Airport: Houston's main hub
Covering 40 square kilometres of land, George Bush Intercontinental Airport is one of the largest airports in the US. Located about 23 miles north of Downtown Houston, it is Houston's main aviation hub, providing scheduled flights to numerous domestic and international destinations across five continents. It is the second busiest airport in Texas for international passenger traffic, and the 15th busiest in the US for total passenger traffic as of 2022.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport has five terminals and 121 total gates. Terminals D and E have access to an international arrivals facility, and Terminal D has gates that can accommodate super-jumbo jets such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8. The Skyway automated people mover system connects all five terminals airside, while the Subway provides landside connections to the airport hotel.
The airport was renamed in 1997 after George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States. Previously, it was named Houston International Airport (IAH), which opened in 1969. In 2020, the airport began a $1.3 billion capital improvement program, the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP), which includes the construction of the Mickey Leland International Terminal (MLIT). The ITRP is expected to be completed by late 2024 or early 2025 and will be capable of handling 33 million enplaned international passengers annually.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is served by carriers that provide scheduled bus and shuttle services to locations such as NRG Park, Downtown Houston, Uptown, Greenway Plaza, and the Texas Medical Center. Super Shuttle provides shared van services to surrounding communities. The airport also features artworks such as Ed Carpenter's "Light Wings", a multicoloured glass sculpture suspended below a skylight in Terminal A North Concourse, and Terry Allen's "Countree Music", a cast bronze tree that plays instrumental music in Terminal A South Concourse.
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Frequently asked questions
Covering a surface area of 135 square kilometres, Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the USA.
Denver International Airport has 3 runways.
The second-largest airport in the USA is Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas.
