Jazmin Li
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, is the busiest airport in the United States and the world. It has held this title every year since 1998, except in 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dip in passenger traffic. Atlanta's airport serves approximately 50.9 million to 104 million passengers annually and is followed by Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Denver International Airport (DEN) as the second and third busiest airports in the US, respectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest airport in the US | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Number of passengers | 50.9 million |
| Number of flights | 341,835 per year |
| Number of flights per day | 1,000 |
| Second busiest airport | Los Angeles International Airport |
| Number of passengers at the second busiest airport | 40.9 million |
Explore related products
![24x36 Gallery Poster, Orlando International Airport, The busiest Airport in The State with 44.6 Million Total Passengers in 2017 [ 262 ]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51rvdHrzf3L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Atlanta International Airport, Georgia
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia, is one of the busiest airports in the United States and the world. In May 2025, it was ranked as the busiest global airport with 5.5 million seats and an unchanged capacity from May 2024. The airport also topped the list of the busiest US airports in 2023, with 50.9 million passengers.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary hub of Delta Air Lines, with over 1,000 daily flights to 225 domestic and international destinations. It is considered the first mega-hub in the United States and is the world's largest airline hub. The airport also serves as the base for low-cost carriers such as Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.
The airport has a significant economic impact on the region, with a direct and indirect influence of $3.2 billion and an annual regional impact of more than $19.8 billion. It is the largest employment centre in Georgia, with about 55,300 employees across various sectors, including airlines, ground transportation, security, and federal government.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport offers convenient transportation options, including its own train station on the city's rapid transit system, MARTA. The airport is easily accessible via Interstate 85 for the domestic terminal and Interstate 75 for the international terminal, which connect to other major freeways within a 10-mile radius. The airport also has a rental car centre, featuring parking decks, a customer service centre, and a maintenance centre.
While Atlanta International Airport may be the busiest, it is not the largest airport in the US. Denver and Orlando airports, for example, serve millions of travellers each year and have room for future expansion.
Lisbon Airport: What's the Deal with WiFi?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas
The airport is located roughly halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, spreading across portions of Dallas and Tarrant counties. It includes parts of Grapevine, Irving, Euless, and Coppell. The airport is the primary international airport serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region. It is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered nearby. The hub operated by American Airlines at DFW is the second-largest single airline hub in the world and the US, after Delta Air Lines' hub in Atlanta.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport first opened for commercial service on January 13, 1974, at a cost of $875 million. At the time, it was the largest airport in the world in terms of land area, spanning 17,500 acres. The airport featured an innovative, fully automated people mover system, the Vought Airtrans, later rebranded as the Airport Train and then the TrAAin. When it opened, the airport had four terminals, numbered 2W, 2E, 3E, and 4E. During its first year, the airport was served by nine airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Continental Airlines.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has continued to expand and develop over the years. As of October 2014, the airport served 202 destinations, including 55 international and 147 domestic destinations. The airport has recently announced plans for further expansion, including the addition of new gates and improved customer amenities.
Nashville Airport Smoking Rules: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Denver International Airport, Colorado
Denver International Airport, often abbreviated to DEN and locally known as DIA, is one of the busiest airports in the United States. Located in Colorado, the airport serves metropolitan Denver and the greater Front Range Urban Corridor. With over 40,000 employees, it is the largest employer in the state.
The airport is situated 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Downtown Denver, covering 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi; 135.7 km2). This makes it the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area and the second-largest on Earth. Its runway, 16R/34L, is 16,000 feet (3.03 mi; 4.88 km) long, making it the longest public-use runway in North America and the seventh-longest in the world.
Denver International Airport is a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. The airport has consistently ranked among the top 20 busiest airports in the world since 2000, and in 2021 and 2022, it was the third busiest airport globally and in the United States by passenger traffic. In 2023, it was the sixth busiest airport in the world and retained its position as the third busiest in the United States, serving approximately 77.8 million passengers, a 12% increase from the previous year. The airport set a new record in 2024, with 82,358,744 passengers, surpassing the previous year's record by 5.8%.
Denver International Airport offers a range of amenities, including shops, restaurants, and free wireless internet access. The airport is recognised for its extensive public art collection, featuring Colorado-inspired rotating exhibitions and murals by Chicano artist Leo Tanguma. The Jeppesen Terminal, designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects, stands out for its internationally recognised peaked roof, resembling Colorado's snow-capped mountains. The terminal also houses a bronze statue of Jack Swigert, a Denver native and Apollo 13 Command Module Pilot, by artist George Lundeen.
Haven at Main: Quick Access to Hobby Airport
You may want to see also
Explore related products
O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois
O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the busiest airports in the world. In May 2025, it was ranked the 6th busiest airport globally, with a 7% increase in capacity compared to May 2024. O'Hare has a rich history, dating back to World War II when it served as a manufacturing plant for Douglas C-54 Skymasters. It was known as Orchard Place, situated in a small German-American farming community. The airport covers 7,627 acres and is located approximately 17 miles northwest of Chicago's Loop business district.
O'Hare became famous during the jet age, holding the title of the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic from 1963 to 1998. Even today, it remains one of the busiest, ranking 4th in the world in 2024. The airport offers non-stop flights to 249 destinations across North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region. In 2019, O'Hare recorded 919,704 aircraft movements, averaging 2,520 per day, a feat attributed in part to its large number of regional flights.
The airport's growth was initially slow, with airlines reluctant to move from Midway, Chicago's previous primary 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 (the Kennedy Expressway) in 1960, airlines began to relocate. The introduction of jet airliners, which required longer runways, was a significant factor in driving the shift from Midway to O'Hare.
O'Hare International Airport is easily accessible by road, with options including airport shuttle, bus, the Chicago "L", and taxis. Additionally, the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 190) provides a direct route into the airport. O'Hare serves as a hub for major airlines such as American Airlines and United Airlines and is the operating base for Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.
Charlotte Airport: Back to Business as Usual?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Los Angeles International Airport, California
Los Angeles International Airport, commonly known by its airport code, LAX, is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its surrounding metropolitan area in California. Located in the Westchester neighbourhood of Los Angeles, it is situated 18 miles (29 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. The airport is operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), a branch of the Los Angeles city government, which also manages the Van Nuys Airport for general aviation.
LAX covers 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of land and features four parallel runways. It is the largest and busiest international airport on the West Coast of the United States, serving as a significant gateway for international travel. In 2023, LAX handled approximately 75 million passengers, ranking as the world's eighth-busiest airport by passenger traffic, according to the Airports Council International. The following year, in 2024, it saw a slight increase, serving over 76 million passengers.
LAX is considered the busiest airport in California and was the fifth-busiest airport in the United States in 2022 based on passenger boardings. It is also a prominent hub for passenger airlines, serving as a hub, focus city, or operating base for more carriers than any other airport in the country. The airport holds the record for the world's busiest origin and destination airport, as a high proportion of travellers begin or end their trips in Los Angeles rather than using it as a connection.
The airport has a notable place in history and popular culture. Several significant incidents have occurred at LAX, including the Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crash in 2000 and the 2002 Los Angeles International Airport shooting. Additionally, due to its proximity to Hollywood studios and Los Angeles, LAX has been featured in numerous films and television shows.
A Day at Kennedy Airport: How Many Hours?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Georgia is the state that is home to the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has approximately 104 million passengers passing through each year.
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is not the largest airport in terms of size.
The second busiest airport in the US is Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which serves approximately 67 million passengers annually.
Denver International Airport is the fifth busiest airport in the US, with around 61 million passengers travelling through each year.
