Ruth Haines
Many cities around the world have more than one airport, often to accommodate demand, serve different areas of the city, or cater to different airlines. London and New York top the list with six commercial airports each, followed by Los Angeles with five. Bangkok, Shanghai, and Tokyo also have two airports each that handle over 50 million seats annually.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cities with two major airports | Bangkok, London, New York, Shanghai, and Tokyo |
| Bangkok's airports | Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Bangkok Don Mueang |
| London's airports | Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Stansted, Luton, and Southend |
| New York's airports | JFK, Newark, La Guardia, Long Island MacArthur, New York Stewart International, and Westchester County |
| Shanghai's airports | Pudong and Hongqiao |
| Tokyo's airports | Haneda and Narita |
| Reason for multiple airports | Expansion in demand for aviation, serving different airlines or city districts, and relieving congestion |
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What You'll Learn
London has six airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick
London shares the distinction of having six commercial airports with New York City, which has three main airports: Newark-Liberty, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy International. However, London typically reports a higher total passenger volume.
Having multiple airports offers several benefits, such as accommodating more airlines and flights, resulting in increased competition and more affordable travel options. It also provides travellers with a choice of airports that may be more conveniently located for their specific destinations within a city. For example, London Heathrow primarily handles international traffic, while London Gatwick serves a mix of domestic and international routes.
The presence of multiple airports in a city can be attributed to various factors, including historical circumstances, geographic expansion, and the need to cater to growing aviation demand. London's extensive airport system reflects its status as a major global city and a key transport hub, accommodating a high volume of passenger traffic and facilitating connections to destinations worldwide.
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New York City has six airports, including JFK and Newark
New York City is served by six airports, three major and three minor. The three main airports are Newark-Liberty (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA), and John F. Kennedy International (JFK). The three smaller, more distant airports are Long Island MacArthur Airport, New York Stewart International Airport, and Westchester County Airport.
New York has the highest degree of overlap, with 67% of all routes operated from each airport being duplicated. This is due to the presence of two of the big three US majors, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Delta Air Lines is the majority carrier at JFK, with 28% of seats, and JetBlue is close behind with 23%.
New York's multiple airports are partly historical and partly functional. LaGuardia, for example, opened as a private airfield in 1929 and as a commercial airport in 1939. Having multiple airports allows for more flights and more competition, which can result in lower fares for passengers. It also provides more options for travellers, particularly business travellers, who may need to fly into a specific part of the city.
New York is not the only major city with multiple airports. London, Paris, Moscow, Seoul, Bangkok, Shanghai, and Tokyo also have multiple airports.
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Los Angeles has five airports, including LAX and Long Beach
Los Angeles is served by five airports with commercial air service, including LAX and Long Beach Airport. LAX, or Los Angeles International Airport, is the primary international airport serving the Greater Los Angeles area and is one of the world's busiest airports. It is located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, 18 miles (29-30 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. LAX is a major hub for several airlines and serves as a gateway to the United States for international passengers.
Long Beach Airport (LGB) is the least busy of the airports in the area. It is located in Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, and served 3.6 million passengers in 2019.
The other airports serving the Los Angeles region include John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in Burbank, and Ontario International Airport. These airports offer a range of domestic and international services, connecting Los Angeles to the rest of the world.
Multi-airport systems are common in large metropolitan areas, especially around capital cities such as London, Paris, Moscow, and Seoul. These cities often have a primary hub airport and a secondary airport, which may still be considered major airports. Los Angeles' five airports, including LAX and Long Beach, contribute to the region's thriving aviation industry and provide essential transportation links for passengers and cargo.
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Shanghai has two airports, Pudong and Hongqiao
Shanghai is one of the five cities in the world with two airports, both handling over 50 million seats annually. The other cities are Bangkok, London, New York, and Tokyo. Shanghai's two airports are Pudong and Hongqiao.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is one of the two international airports serving Shanghai, China. It serves both international and domestic flights. The airport is located about 30 km (19 mi) east of the city centre, occupying a 40-square-kilometre (10,000-acre) site adjacent to the coastline in eastern Pudong. Pudong Airport is the main hub for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines and a major international hub for Air China. It is also the busiest international gateway in mainland China, with 35.25 million international passengers.
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, on the other hand, mainly serves domestic and regional flights in East Asia. Before the establishment of Pudong International Airport, Hongqiao Airport was the only primary airport in Shanghai. However, during the 1990s, the expansion of Hongqiao Airport became impossible due to the developing urban area surrounding it. This led to the construction of Pudong International Airport, which opened in October 1999.
Both airports are under the uniform management and operation of the Shanghai Airport Authority. They are connected by the Shanghai Metro Line 2 and the Shanghai Maglev Train, with a maximum travel time of about 40 minutes between the two airports.
There are mixed reviews regarding the amenities and location of the two airports. Some prefer Hongqiao Airport due to its location in the suburbs, making it easier to access and providing walking options in the surrounding area. In contrast, Pudong Airport is located on the eastern coast, in the middle of a large industrial area. However, others appreciate the amenities at Pudong Airport, noting that it is more refined and has more shops.
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Tokyo has two airports, Haneda and Narita
Tokyo is a metropolis that has two airports, Haneda and Narita, serving both international air traffic and domestic travel. Haneda Airport (HND), officially known as Tokyo International Airport, is located in Ōta, Tokyo, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Tokyo Station. It has four runways, arranged in two parallel pairs, and is the primary domestic base of Japan's two largest airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways. Haneda handles more than 78 million passengers annually, making it the busiest of Tokyo's two airports.
Narita International Airport (NRT), on the other hand, is located further outside of Tokyo but still offers easy access to the city centre via excellent transportation links. Narita has long been the designated international airport for Tokyo, with a focus on medium-haul routes. However, in recent years, some airlines have shifted more of their long-haul operations to Haneda due to its closer proximity to the city centre.
Both airports are easily accessible from the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal in Odaiba by bus or train. Additionally, there are direct trains and buses connecting the two airports, with journey times ranging from 65 to 93 minutes depending on the mode of transportation.
The presence of two major airports in Tokyo is a result of the city's large metropolitan population and the need to accommodate the high demand for air travel. Haneda and Narita collectively handle over 50 million seats annually, making Tokyo one of only five cities in the world with this distinction.
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Frequently asked questions
There are currently only five cities in the world with two airports that handle over 50 million seats annually. These cities are Bangkok, London, New York, Shanghai, and Tokyo.
New York City has six commercial airports. The three main airports are Newark-Liberty (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA), and John F. Kennedy International (JFK).
London has six airports, with Heathrow and Gatwick being the largest. The other four are London City, London Stansted, Luton, and Southend airports.
Multiple airports in a city mean more room for airlines to operate more flights, creating more nonstop options and competition, which can lead to lower fares for passengers. It also helps to avoid monopolies, relieve congestion, and divide traffic between international and domestic passengers.
