Lois Larson
The United States is known for its large airports, with several of them regularly appearing among the largest in the world. The US also handles a significant portion of the world's air traffic, estimated at around half. Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the US, covering 135 square kilometres. It is also the second-largest airport in the world. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas is the second-largest airport in the US, covering 69.63 square kilometres. It is also the third busiest airport in the world, serving over 80 million passengers in 2023. The world's first airport was founded by the Wright brothers in College Park, Maryland, in 1909.
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What You'll Learn
Denver International Airport is the largest in the US
Denver International Airport, often referred to by locals as DIA, is an international airport in the Western United States, serving metropolitan Denver, Colorado, and the greater Front Range Urban Corridor. Covering 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi; 135.7 km2), it is the largest airport in the US and the Western Hemisphere by land area. It is also the second-largest airport in the world, behind King Fahd International Airport. The airport is located 25 miles (40 km) driving distance northeast of Downtown Denver and features the longest public-use runway in North America, which is 16,000 feet (3.03 mi; 4.88 km) long.
Denver International Airport is a significant economic driver for Colorado, contributing an estimated $47.2 billion annually to the state's economy and employing over 40,000 people, making it the largest employer in the state. The airport has a single terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, named after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen, and three midfield concourses with a total of 169 gates. The airport is easily accessible, with an extensive road network, including the A Line rail service connecting it to downtown Denver, and it even claims to be bicycle-friendly.
The airport has a unique character, with its art, unusual architecture, and construction features, which have inspired various conspiracy theories. For instance, the time capsule at the airport features an inscribed plaque with the Freemason symbol and the words "New World Airport Commission," leading to theories about Freemason influence and links to the New World Order. The airport administration has chosen to embrace these conspiracy theories rather than fight them.
Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, handling a record-breaking 82.3 million passengers in 2024. To accommodate this high volume of passengers, the airport has an impressive infrastructure, including approximately 300 lane miles of roads and over 51,000 public parking spaces. The airport is constantly expanding and improving its facilities to enhance the passenger experience, making it a world-class aviation hub.
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Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the second-largest
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas is the second-largest airport in the United States by land area. Covering 17,207 acres (26.89 sq mi; 69.63 sq km), it is larger than the land area of Manhattan in New York City. It is also the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, serving about 70 million passengers annually.
DFW 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 has its headquarters near the airport. The airport has five terminals and 174 to 191 gates, serving a total of 254 to 260 destinations worldwide, including 191 to 193 domestic and 63 to 67 international nonstop destinations.
The airport first opened for commercial service as Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Airport on January 13, 1974, at a cost of $875 million. At the time, it was the biggest airport in the world, with a land area of 17,500 acres (27.3 sq mi; 7,100 ha; 71 sq km). The airport was proposed as early as 1927, but Fort Worth initially declined the offer, leading to the opening of separate airports in Dallas (Love Field) and Fort Worth (Meacham Field).
DFW Airport is more than just a transportation hub. It boasts its own post office ZIP Code (75261), United States Postal Service city designation ("DFW Airport, TX"), and its own police, fire protection, and emergency medical services. The airport also has a high-speed automated people mover system called Skylink, which helps passengers quickly travel between gates within the secured area.
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Orlando Airport is the fourth-largest
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the fourth-largest airport in the world. It is also one of the largest commercial airports in terms of land area in the United States, covering 11,605 acres (4,696 ha). In 2023, the airport served 57.7 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in Florida, the seventh busiest in the US, and one of the top 20 busiest airports worldwide.
Orlando International Airport is located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Orlando, Florida. The airport serves as a major international gateway for the Florida region, with over 1,000 daily flights on more than 40 airlines serving over 170 domestic and international destinations. It is also a leading city in the US for conferences and conventions and is home to one of the largest public universities in the country.
The airport features an on-site Hyatt Regency hotel within the main terminal structure, with guest rooms located on the fifth floor and above. The hotel features a large lobby area, convention space, several bars, and two restaurants, including a signature restaurant on the top level of the terminal building. Orlando International Airport is also home to a maintenance base for United Airlines, and it served as a hub for Delta Air Lines until 2007.
Orlando International Airport's airport code, MCO, comes from its former name, McCoy Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation that was closed in 1975 following the end of the Vietnam War. The airfield was originally constructed as a US Army Air Forces facility, and military operations began in 1942 as Orlando Army Air Field #2, an auxiliary airfield to what is now known as Orlando Executive Airport.
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Salt Lake City Airport is the sixth-largest
Salt Lake City International Airport is the sixth-largest airport in the United States. Located about 6.4 kilometres west of Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, the airport is a joint civil-military airport. It is also one of the busiest airports in Utah, serving 24 million passengers annually.
The airport is a hub for Delta Air Lines, with the airline accounting for about 70% of total traffic. Fourteen airlines serve the airport, including AeroMexico, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, KLM, Spirit, Southwest, Sun Country, United, and Delta Air Lines. Salt Lake City International Airport has been praised for its punctuality, ranking first for on-time departures and arrivals and having the fewest flight cancellations among major US airports.
Salt Lake City International Airport has a rich history in aviation. In 1911, a site for an airfield was chosen on Basque Flats, and the Great International Aviation Carnival was held, bringing aviation pioneers and world-famous aviator Glenn H. Curtiss to the city. The airport was originally named Woodward Field in 1927, then renamed Salt Lake City Municipal Airport in 1930. The first terminal and airport administration building were built in 1933. The airport underwent expansions and renovations over the years, with Terminal 1 being dedicated in 1960 and Terminal 2 being built in the 1980s.
Today, the airport has four runways and one terminal with two concourses and 63 gates. It offers convenient access to numerous ski resorts, golf courses, and national and state parks. With its strong on-time performance record and convenient location, Salt Lake City International Airport is a significant transportation hub in the Intermountain West and West Coast regions.
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Houston Intercontinental Airport is the fifth-largest
Houston Intercontinental Airport, now known as George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is the fifth-largest airport in the United States. Located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston, the airport covers 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land and has five runways. It is one of the largest passenger hubs for United Airlines and offers scheduled flights to numerous domestic and international destinations covering five continents.
The airport was originally named Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in June 1969. In 1997, the Houston City Council voted to rename the airport after George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States. The official name became George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston, with the airport code IAH derived from the stylization "Intercontinental Airport of Houston".
Houston Intercontinental Airport is one of two major airports in Houston, the other being William P. Hobby Airport. Together, these airports form the fourth-largest airport system in the country. In 2018, Houston Intercontinental Airport served nearly 44 million passengers with more than 650 daily departures. It is currently served by 28 scheduled passenger airlines and features five passenger terminals, all connected by an automated people mover and underground train.
The airport has a variety of amenities for travellers, including Wi-Fi, retail stores, and over 50 food and beverage outlets. It also provides important services such as a currency exchange booth and ADA-compliant facilities. Houston Intercontinental Airport ranks highly for its non-stop domestic and international service, connecting to over 180 destinations worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
The largest airport in the US is Denver International Airport, located in Colorado.
The Denver International Airport covers 135 square kilometres or 52.4 square miles.
The second-largest airport in the US is the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, located in Texas.
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport covers 69.63 square kilometres or 26.9 square miles.
The US has some of the biggest airports in the world. However, the largest airport in the world is the King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, covering 780 square kilometres.
