Sachin Walls
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the US. In 2023, it handled 104.7 million passengers, making it one of the busiest airports in the world. However, it does not top the list for the most daily flights, welcoming a below-average number of airlines and ranking outside the top 10 in terms of size. Chicago O'Hare International Airport, for example, had the biggest increase in capacity in May 2025 compared to May 2024, jumping from 8th to 6th place globally.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest airport in the US | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Passenger volume (2023) | 104.7 million |
| Passenger volume (2021) | 50.9 million |
| Daily flights (Jan 2025) | Not in the top spot |
| Number of airlines | Below average |
| Size | 7.34 square miles (not in the top 10) |
| Busiest airport in the world (May 2025) | Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
The airport's status as a major hub for Delta Air Lines and its vast number of domestic and international destinations contribute to its high passenger volume. In fact, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is so busy that they launched a podcast titled "Under the Canopy: Stories Behind the World's Busiest Airport." The city's mayor, Andre Dickens, also acknowledged the airport's importance, stating that it is a "critical asset" for Atlanta and the global aviation community.
Despite being America's busiest airport in terms of passenger volume, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport does not rank highly in terms of the number of daily flights. It also welcomes a below-average number of airlines and is not in the top 10 when it comes to the size of the airport. The airport covers just 7.34 square miles, which is significantly less than other major airports such as Denver International Airport, which covers 52.4 square miles.
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Los Angeles International Airport
LAX is a major international gateway for the country, serving as a connection point for passengers travelling internationally to and from East and Southeast Asia, Australasia, Mexico, and Central America. In 2018, it was the world's eighth-busiest airport by passenger traffic, serving over 87 million passengers and 2 million tons of freight and mail. In 2019, this number increased to more than 88 million passengers.
In 2023, LAX handled 75,050,875 passengers, according to the Airports Council International rankings. This made it the world's eleventh-busiest airport by passenger traffic and twelfth-busiest by cargo traffic. The following year, in 2024, the airport served 76,587,980 passengers, a 2.04% increase from 2023.
LAX is considered one of the busiest airports in the world when ranked by takeoffs and landings, with 700,362 aircraft movements (landings and takeoffs) in 2017, the third most of any airport in the world. The airport holds the record for the world's busiest origin and destination airport, as many travellers begin or end their trips in Los Angeles rather than using it as a connection.
Multiple different carriers have hubs at Los Angeles International Airport, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.
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Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
The airport serves as the primary international airport for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region. It is located roughly halfway between the major cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and covers parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties, including sections of Grapevine, Irving, Euless, and Coppell.
The airport has undergone significant expansion and development over the years. In 2023, it completed a major milestone in its $3 billion plan to expand Terminal C, successfully relocating six megastructure modules to accommodate nine new gates for American Airlines. Additionally, the airport has announced new shopping and dining options, including local Texas brands and the first 24-hour Chick-fil-A in a major US airport.
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Denver International Airport
Denver has traditionally been home to one of the busier airports in the United States because its midcontinent location is ideal for an airline hub. Several airlines, notably United Airlines and Continental Airlines, had hubs at the former Stapleton International Airport, helping make it the sixth-busiest airport in the country by the 1960s. However, Stapleton had little room for expansion and its runways were too close together, leading to long delays and nationwide travel disruptions in bad weather. From 1980 to 1983, the Denver Regional Council of Governments investigated areas for a new airport north and east of Denver. In 1989, a vote transferred the land from Adams County to Denver, increasing the city's size by 50% and providing the necessary space for the new airport.
At 33,500 to 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi; 135.7 to 136 km2), Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area and the second-largest on Earth, behind King Fahd International Airport. Runway 16R/34L, with a length of 16,000 feet (3.03 mi; 4.88 km), is the longest public-use runway in North America and the seventh-longest on Earth. The Jeppesen Terminal at DEN features 2.6 million square feet of space and is named after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen. The terminal's internationally recognised peaked roof, designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects, resembles snow-capped mountains and evokes the early history of Colorado when Native American teepees were located across the Great Plains.
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Chicago O'Hare International Airport
O'Hare has a rich history, dating back to World War II when it served as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters. The site was chosen for its easy access to the workforce in Chicago, railroads, and distance from enemy threats. In 1955, the airport began offering scheduled passenger services, but growth was initially slow as airlines were reluctant to move from Midway International Airport. However, with improvements such as the opening of its first international terminal in 1958 and the completion of the expressway link to downtown Chicago in 1960, O'Hare gradually became the world's busiest airport.
By 1962, all fixed-wing scheduled airline flights in Chicago had transitioned from Midway to O'Hare. Within two years, the airport was serving over 20 million passengers annually, a remarkable achievement that solidified its status as the world's busiest airport. O'Hare retained this title until 1998 when it was surpassed by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Today, Chicago O'Hare International Airport remains a significant aviation hub, offering a vast network of domestic and international flights. In 2023, it ranked as the busiest airport in the US based on daily flights, with 278 total destinations and 919,704 aircraft movements, averaging 2,520 per day. O'Hare is also considered the most connected airport in the US and the fifth most connected airport worldwide. Its role as a critical transportation gateway contributes to Chicago's prominence as a global city.
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Frequently asked questions
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the US by passenger volume. In 2023, 104.7 million people passed through the airport.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport handles around 1000 flights per day. During the busiest part of the 2024/2025 travel season, the airport prepared for up to 3.7 million passengers in just over a 2-week period.
Yes, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world. As of May 2025, it has 5.5 million seats.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Denver International Airport are among the busiest airports in the world.
