Airports Galore: States With The Highest Numbers

what states have the most airports

Texas is the state with the most airports in the US, with almost 1,500 airports across the state. This is more than double the amount of airports in any other state. Alaska is also noted for having a large number of airports, with 352, the majority of which are not for commercial use.

Characteristics Values
Number of airports in the US Over 19,700
Number of airports open to the general public 5,170
Number of airports serving commercial flights 503
Busiest airport in the US Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Number of passengers at the busiest airport 50.9 million
Second busiest airport in the US Los Angeles International Airport
Number of passengers at the second busiest airport 40.9 million
Third busiest airport in the US Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Number of passengers at the third busiest airport 39.2 million
Airports with the fastest passage through immigration counters Boston, Dallas, Denver, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.
Airports with the slowest passage through immigration counters Los Angeles, Miami, and JFK New York
State with the first airport in the US Maryland
City with the first airport in the US College Park

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Texas has the most airports

Texas has more airports than any other state. In fact, in 2006, Texas was reported to have 69 airports. Texas is a very large state, and with so many airports, it makes long-distance travel easy for its residents.

Texas is home to some of the most familiar airlines in America, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and JSX. The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is American Airlines' largest hub, and the world's third-busiest airport by passenger movements and second-largest by passenger traffic from 2022 to 2023. DFW is also a hub for Delta Air Lines, the second-largest airline that uses the airport as its base.

Houston George Bush Intercontinental, Texas' second-busiest airport, serves greater Houston. It is a hub for United Airlines. Houston Hobby Airport, Houston's secondary airport, is the city's oldest commercial airport. It was the primary airport serving greater Houston before the development of George Bush Intercontinental. In February 2020, it became the first airport in Texas to have full biometric entry and exit for international passengers.

Dallas Love Field is another notable airport in Texas. It is located just six miles from downtown Dallas and is operated by four airlines: Alaska Airlines, Delta, JSX, and Southwest. Southwest demands at least 95% of all operations at the airport, making it the largest by market share.

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Alaska has the most commercial airports

Alaska has the highest number of commercial airports of any state in the US. With 352 airports, Alaska has far more airports than the next state, California, which has 139.

There are several reasons why Alaska has so many airports. Firstly, Alaska's small population is spread across a large area, much of which is wilderness. Many towns in Alaska are not connected to the rest of North America by road and are only accessible by airplane. As a result, virtually every town in Alaska has an airport.

Another factor is the number of public-use and military airports in the state. Alaska has many public-use airports, which are owned by either the state or individual cities. These include the Ralph Wien airport in Kotzebue, which is served by Alaska Airlines, Bering Air, and Ravn Alaska, and the Bethel Airport in the western part of the state, which is not connected to the main Alaska road network. Some of Alaska's public-use airports are also used for military purposes. In addition, there are several military airports in Alaska, including those that are no longer open to the public but still have commercial enplanements recorded by the FAA.

Finally, Alaska's busy airports handle a large volume of passenger and cargo traffic. The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is the busiest airport in the state and the third-largest in the world for cargo throughput. It is served by major US carriers such as Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, as well as international airlines like Air Canada and Germany's Condor. Other busy airports in Alaska include the Fairbanks International Airport, which offers nonstop air service to Europe and other parts of the world, and the Juneau International Airport, which is located 8 miles from downtown Juneau, the state capital.

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Minnesota has 4 international airports

When it comes to states with the most airports, Alaska takes the top spot with 352 airports. California follows with 139, then Ohio with 75, and Kansas with 73. Minnesota, with its 39 airports, is in 17th place.

While Minnesota may not be in the top 5, it is one of the few states with multiple international airports. In fact, Minnesota has four international airports. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is the most notable, serving as a major hub for Delta Air Lines and home to Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines and Endeavor Air. With two terminals and 131 gates, it is the busiest airport in the Upper Midwest. The airport is located within 10 miles of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul, and its terminals are about a mile apart, accessible from Minnesota State Highway 5. Terminal 1, named after aviator Charles Lindbergh, has 117 gates across seven concourses, while Terminal 2, named after vice president Hubert Humphrey, has 14 gates across one concourse.

Another international airport in Minnesota is the Hector International Airport, located in Fargo, serving the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. It is the second-largest commercial airport in North Dakota and is known for its unique architecture, featuring a wooden roof and a spacious interior.

The third international airport in Minnesota is the Duluth International Airport, situated in the city of Duluth. It offers flights to a variety of destinations, including Chicago, Denver, and Minneapolis, and serves as a gateway to northern Minnesota and the Arrowhead Region.

Lastly, the fourth international airport in Minnesota is the Rochester International Airport, located in the city of Rochester. While smaller than the others, it provides convenient access to the southern part of the state and serves both commercial and private aviation needs.

These four international airports showcase Minnesota's focus on aviation infrastructure and its role in connecting the state to the rest of the world.

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Michigan has 2 international airports

Michigan has a total of 54 airports, two of which are international airports. The first of these is the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, which is located 20 minutes away from downtown Grand Rapids. The airport is named after Michigan native and former President Gerald R. Ford. It serves as a gateway to 24 major market destinations. The second is the Capital Region International Airport (LAN), which serves Michigan State University. Michigan's largest airport, the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), is located in Romulus, a suburb of Detroit.

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Kentucky has 153 airports

In 2011, Kentucky had 153 airports, including both public and private ones. One notable airport in Kentucky is the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), located in Boone County. CVG serves the Cincinnati tri-state area and offers nonstop passenger service to over 50 destinations in North America and Europe. It is also a significant cargo hub for companies like Amazon Air, DHL Aviation, and Atlas Air.

Kentucky's airport system consists of various categories of airports, including commercial service – primary and non-primary, reliever airports, and general aviation airports. Commercial service – primary airports, such as CVG, are publicly owned and have more than 10,000 passenger boardings annually. They are further classified into four "hub" types based on their passenger enplanements: large, medium, small, and non-hub.

Reliever airports are designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce congestion at large commercial airports and enhance general aviation access for the community. On the other hand, general aviation airports constitute the largest group of airports in the US airport system. These airports cater to a range of aircraft, from small private planes to larger corporate jets.

The presence of 153 airports in Kentucky highlights the state's focus on aviation infrastructure and connectivity. These airports play a crucial role in facilitating travel, commerce, and economic development within the state and beyond. Kentucky's airports cater to a diverse range of aviation needs, from commercial passenger flights to cargo operations, contributing to the state's overall transportation network.

Frequently asked questions

Texas has the most airports in the US, with almost 1,500 airports across the state.

There are 1,494 airports in Texas.

Alaska has 352 commercial airports, the most in the US by a long shot.

California has the second-most airports in the US, with 139.

Ohio has the third-most airports in the US, with 75.

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