One app for all your study abroad needs
Did you know the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has the most passengers per year? The largest airports in the world, like the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, stand as symbols of global connectivity, infrastructure, and impressive passenger handling capacity. These airports are more than travel hubs. They are small cities in themselves. This blog covers the list of the largest airports in the world. You can also learn about the busiest airports and what makes them special.
Table of Contents
| S. No. | Name of the Airport | Category | Location |
| 1 | King Fahd International Airport (DMM) | Largest | Dammam, Saudi Arabia |
| 2 | Denver International Airport (DEN) | Largest | Denver, USA |
| 3 | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | Largest | Dallas/Fort Worth, USA |
| 4 | Orlando International Airport (MCO) | Largest | Orlando, USA |
| 5 | Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | Largest | Washington, D.C., USA |
| 6 | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) | Busiest | Atlanta, USA |
| 7 | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | Busiest | Chicago, USA |
| 8 | Dubai International Airport (DXB) | Busiest | Dubai, UAE |
| 9 | London Heathrow Airport (LHR) | Busiest | London, United Kingdom |
| 10 | Frankfurt Airport (FRA) | Busiest | Frankfurt, Germany |
| 11 | Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) | Busiest | Toronto, Canada |
Top 5 Largest Airports in the World
Here is a list of the top 5 largest airports in the world. They are the largest airports by area. Go through this list, and let us know which ranking surprised you the most.
King Fahd International Airport (DMM)
King Fahd International Airport is the world’s largest airport by area!. This airport is located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and covers approximately 776 km² (299.6 sq mi). You can compare the area to the size of New York City. Originally, the airport was the largest US military base. However, later on, it opened for commercial flights in 1999. Despite its size, it only deals with 12 million passengers annually. You can find a mosque or 2,000 worshippers, greenhouses, and residential facilities!
Denver International Airport (DEN)
The Denver International Airport is one of the largest airports in the world. Its size is 135.7 km² (53.1 sq mi). The airport is the largest in North America and is known for its iconic tent-like roof (inspired by the Rocky Mountains). This airport has more than 40 public art installations, including sculptures. The airport has 6 runways, and a solar farm generates 25% of its energy needs. Each year, more than 82.3 million passengers use the airport.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
The Dallas International Airport is one of the largest airports in the world. The airport is the second busiest airport in the United States. More than 81 million passengers board planes here per year. The airport covers an area of 69.6 km² and is the hub for American Airlines. It has 5 terminals connected to an automated Skylink train. It is North America’s first carbon-neutral airport, and it generates $37 billion annually for the local economy.
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
The Orlando International Airport (MCO) covers about 53.8 km². This makes it one of the largest airports in the world. The airport was earlier McCoy Air Force Base, and was repurposed in 1975 in order to support tourism. Orlando International Airport gives you direct access to Disney World and Universal Studios. The airport has 4 terminals and has a unique hybrid design that combines retail and transit spaces. It is expected that the airport will be expanded to include a new terminal and automated people movers.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
The Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is one of the largest airports in the world. This airport covers about 48.6 km² (18.8 sq mi). The airport was designed by architect Eero Saarinen, who is famous for the futuristic terminal (1962). Located in Washington DC, this airport has “mobile lounges” (people movers) to transport passengers between terminals. The airport is home to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre (a museum), and is the hub for United Airlines.
Also Read: 7 Wonders of the World: New and Old Wonders
Busiest Airport in the World By Flights Per Day
Now that you know about the largest airports in the world, let’s learn about the busiest airports in the world. The busiest airports in the world by flights per day are provided below:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) ranks number 1 in the busiest airport in the busiest airport by flights per day. This airport is the busiest in terms of aircraft movements, and has held this position since 1998. The airport acts as Delta Air Lines’ primary hub, and has about 2,700 daily flights. The airport is Delta Air Lines’ primary hub and connects over 150 domestic and 70+ international destinations.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Although the Chicago O’Hare International Airport is not the largest airport in the world, it is one of the busiest airports in the world by area. More than 2,400 flights take off per day from here. The airport is a major hub for United and American Airlines. The airports handle at least 80 million passengers, have 8 runways, and a unique “crosswind” runway configuration for the flexibility of operations. This airport excels in cargo and flight volume.
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
The Dubai International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world by flights per day. The DXB permits 1200 flights per day, and has the highest number of international passengers. The airport is the main hub for Emirates and flydubai, and connects Europe, Africa, and Asia. This airport operates only 2 runways, yet it can handle a high volume of passengers. As per the Dubai Aviation Strategy 2030, the airport expansion is underway.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
The London Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world by flights per day. More than 1150 flights take off from this airport every day. It is the second busiest airport in Europe. Approximately 75% of the passengers travelling are international. This includes international students wanting to study in UK. This airport is the main hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Daily, it operates at near-full capacity with just two runways.
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
The Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has approximately 1,100 flights take off per day. This airport is located in Frankfurt and is the busiest airport in Germany. The airport is a hub for Star Alliance and Lufthansa connections across Europe. Four runways support smooth flight operations across multiple terminals. The airport’s Terminal 3 is still under construction.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
The Toronto Pearson International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world by flights per day. Around 1,000 daily flights are reported from this airport. It is located in Toronto and is the busiest airport in Canada. It is the major hub for West Jet and Air Canada. Moreover, direct connections to more than 180 destinations are available from here. Toronto Pearson International Airport has launched improved Runways upgraded to manage congestion.
Also Read: Largest Bridges in the World: Top 10 Longest Bridges on Earth
FAQs
The world’s number 1 airport is the Singapore Changi Airport. The data is as per Skytrax (2025). This is the 13th time the airport is won this title.
The largest airport in India is the Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi. The airport covers approximately 5,500 acres.. It is not the largest by area. However, it is the busiest airport in India.
The Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore is considered to be the cleanest airport in India. This is the clearest airport not only in India but also in South Asia. Terminal 2 of the airport is given a 5-star rating,
The busiest airport in India is the Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in New Delhi. The airport gets around 73.67 million passengers in a year.
The Dubai airport is considered to be the world’s busiest airport. The Dubai International Airport (DXB) covers about 7,200 acres. The area is equal to 297 football fields. It has three main terminals (1, 2, and 3). Terminal 3 is the largest terminal. The current capacity of the airport is 115 million passengers annually.
Related Reads
These were the largest airports in the world. If you find it fascinating and wish to read more such interesting facts, then stay tuned to the General Knowledge page of Leverage Edu.
