10 Largest Airports in the World in 2024

Last Updated : 25 Jan, 2024

Airports serve as gateways for travellers and goods. These transportation hubs are busy nerve centres, linking distant places and people. Whether you’re jetting off on vacation, conducting business, or receiving goods from around the globe, airports make it all possible.

The largest airport in the world, in terms of land area, is King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia. Covering a staggering 780 square kilometres, it’s like a small city within itself. This mega-airport boasts five terminals, making it capable of handling millions of passengers annually. Its colossal size includes two parallel runways, each stretching over four miles in length.

The airport also plays a vital role in connecting Saudi Arabia to the rest of the world, making it a crucial hub for both domestic and international travel. It’s a prime example of how large airports can reach to accommodate our global mobility needs. Read below this interesting article to find out more about Airports.

Biggest Airport in the World

List of Largest Airports in the World 2024

The King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, is the largest airport globally, and it is significantly bigger than others. Covering almost 300 square miles, it is almost as vast as all five boroughs of New York City combined (302.6 mi2).

The 10 top airports in the world, along with their name (with abbreviation), city, country, and area occupied (size) in square kilometres and square miles, have been mentioned below for easy understanding:

airport name	location	area	no of runway
King Fahd International (DMM)	Dammam, Saudi Arabia	776 km2 (299.61 mi2)	2
Denver International (DEN)	Denver, CO United States	135.7 km2 (53.09 mi2)	6
Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)	Dallas, TX United States	69.6 km2 (26.88 mi2)	7
Orlando International (MCO)	Orlando, FL United States	53.8 km2 (20.78 mi2)	2
Washington Dulles International (IAD)	Washington D.C., United States	48.6 km2 (18.75 mi2)	2
Beijing Daxing International (PKX)	Beijing, China	46.6 km2 (18 mi2)	2
George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)	Houston, TX United States	44.5 km2 (17.19 mi2)	7
Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)	Shanghai, China	39.9 km2 (15.4 mi2)	3
Cairo International (CAI)	Cairo, Egypt	36.3 km2 (14 mi2)	5
Suvarnabhumi International (BKK)	Bangkok, Thailand	32.4 km2 (12.51 mi2)	6

1. Largest Airport in the World: King Fahd International Airport

The King Fahd International Airport, the world’s largest, is situated approximately 19 miles to the northwest of downtown Dammam. Despite its immense size, it is only the third-busiest airport in Saudi Arabia. This is because it was a former US airbase during the Gulf War. It started commercial operations in 1999 and can handle about 12 million passengers.

Presently, it serves as a major hub for Saudia, Saudi Gulf Airlines, and Flynas, with 37 airlines operating there. An interesting fact about King Fahd Airport is that, despite being nearly the size of NYC, it doesn’t rank among the world’s 50 busiest airports. Regarding its size, the airport covers 192,000 acres, and the six-story main terminal building spans an area of 3,520,000 square feet.

Features

The opulent Royal Terminal, complete with its own mosque and luxurious amenities, is only used by the Saudi royal family and VIPs.
Perched atop the car park, the spacious, beautifully designed mosque can accommodate 2,000 worshippers and serves as a significant landmark within the airport.
Within the airport grounds lies a self-contained residential community housing around 3,000 people, mainly airport staff and their families.

Runways

Two parallel runways that are 4,000 m (13,123 ft) long. The runways are separated by 2,146 m (7,041 ft) to allow for simultaneous take-off and landing.
Taxiways: Taxiways parallel to the runways and a cross taxiway that connects the two runways

Terminal building: a six-level structure with a total area of 327,000 m2 (3,520,000 sq ft). It has 11 fixed passenger boarding bridges serving 15 gates.

The King Fahd International Airport: Key Facts and Information

Location: Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Area: 776 km2 (299.61 mi2)
Owner: Government of Saudi Arabia
Operator: General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)
Establishment Date: Opened in 1999
Monthly/Yearly Revenue: Revenue information is not available.
Number of Runways: 2

2. The World’s Second Largest Airport: Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport, the world’s second-largest airport and the largest in the U.S., covers an area of approximately 52.4 square miles. It is located about 25 miles from the city of Denver. Before COVID-19 in 2020, the airport had an annual passenger traffic of about 60 million. In 2020, around 33 million passengers used the airport’s terminals, making it the 8th busiest airport globally.

Features

It serves as a hub for Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.
It is the fourth U.S. airport to operate flights to more than 200 destinations.
The airport is currently undergoing two expansion projects—the ongoing Great Hall and the gate expansion projects.
Denver Airport features the Jeppesen Terminal, which includes three concourses and 146 gates.

Denver International Airport: Key Facts and Information

Location: Denver, CO, United States
Area: 135.7 km2 (53.09 mi2)
Owner: City and County of Denver
Operator: Denver International Airport
Establishment Date: Opened in 1995
Monthly/Yearly Revenue: Generates billions of dollars in annual revenue.
Number of Runways: 6

3. The World’s Third Largest Airport: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

The Dallas International Airport, the world’s third-largest airport, covers an area of approximately 27 square miles, making it larger than Manhattan Island. It is located roughly midway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. American Airlines has its largest hub at DFW Airport, which operates flight services to around 273 destinations across 44 countries.

Features

In 2020, around 39 million passengers used its terminals, making it the fourth busiest airport.
Dallas Airport features five terminals (A-E) and has 184 gates.
There’s a substantial expansion project in the works, with a budget of $139 million.
Airport officials plan to add nine gates to Terminals A-C and completely renovate Terminal C.

The Dallas International Airport: Key Facts and Information

Location: Dallas, TX, United States
Area: 69.6 km2 (26.88 mi2)
Owner: Cities of Dallas and Fort Worth
Operator: DFW Airport Board
Establishment Date: Opened in 1973
Monthly/Yearly Revenue: Generates billions of dollars in annual revenue.
Number of Runways: 7

4. Orland International Airport

Orlando Airport can be found just six miles south-west of downtown Orlando. It spans an area of 21 square miles, which makes it the third-largest airport in the United States and the fourth-largest in the world. With more than 850 flights per day operated by about 44 airlines, Orlando Airport is an important international gateway for the Central Florida region. Orlando Airport offers services to over 135 international and domestic destinations.

Features

The airport has Terminals A and B, with a total of 129 gates.
Orlando Airport is a primary hub for Silver Airways and serves as an operating base for Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and JetBlue.
Both Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines have expanded their flight operations at Orlando Airport, which could lead to a substantial increase in passenger traffic.

Orland International Airport: Key Facts and Information

Location: Orlando, FL, United States
Area: 53.8 km2 (20.78 mi2)
Owner: Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Operator: Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Establishment Date: Opened in 1981
Monthly/Yearly Revenue: Revenue information is not available.
Number of Runways: 2

5. Dulles International Airport

Commonly known as Dulles International Airport (IAD) or simply Dulles, this airport ranks as the fifth-largest in the world. It occupies a surface area of 20.3 square miles and is situated approximately 26 miles west of downtown Washington, DC. IAD Airport serves as a significant air hub for the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

Features

The airport offers services to more than 125 destinations worldwide.
It witnesses daily passenger traffic of around 60,000.
United Airlines operates its hub at Dulles Airport, and Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa are the other major airlines operating from this significant airport.
Dulles Airport has a single terminal with 139 gates.

Dulles International Airport: Key Facts and Information

Location: Washington, D.C., United States
Area: 48.6 km2 (18.75 mi2)
Owner: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Operator: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Establishment Date: Opened in 1962
Monthly/Yearly Revenue: Revenue information is not available.
Number of Runways: 2

6. Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers

While not a major hub for passenger traffic, Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers serves as a crucial gateway to the southwest region of Florida, connecting to destinations such as Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Marco Island, and Punta Gorda. Despite its moderate passenger volume, the airport ranks as the third-largest in the United States, following Denver and DFW. This notable size is attributed to the allocation of over 6,000 acres of land designated for protected marshlands, emphasising the airport’s commitment to environmental conservation.

Features:

Orlando International Airport’s fountain and circular lobby area with pink tiles and palm palms from above
The huge size of Orlando International Airport reflects the city’s attractiveness.

Southwest Florida International Airport: Key Facts and Information

Location: Beijing, China
Area: 46.6 km2 (18 mi2)
Owner: Beijing Daxing International Airport Co., Ltd.
Operator: Capital Airports Holding Company
Establishment Date: Opened in 2019
Monthly/Yearly Revenue: Revenue information is not available.
Number of Runways: 2

7. Orlando International Airport (MCO)

This airport, six miles from downtown Orlando, serves as the primary international gateway to central Florida and its world-famous theme parks. Orlando International Airport boasts nonstop flights from 48 international destinations, attracting guests from all over the world to this renowned family-friendly vacation destination.

Features

The airport’s new $2.8 billion Terminal C opened last year, and the private high-speed rail line Brightline just revealed a station near the airport.
Washington Dulles International Airport’s remarkable Eero Saarinen-designed main terminal

Orlando International Airport: Key Facts and Information

Location: Houston, TX, United States
Area: 44.5 km2 (17.19 mi2)
Owner: City of Houston
Operator: Houston Airport System
Establishment Date: Opened in 1969
Monthly/Yearly Revenue: Generates billions of dollars in annual revenue.
Number of Runways: 7

8. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Upon its inauguration in the early 1960s, Dulles International Airport in the rural expanse of Northern Virginia faced scepticism for its sprawling location, situated 30 miles from the capital city. Despite initial reservations and its distinctive appearance, often likened to an elephant in white, the Eero Saarinen-designed airport proved to be a remarkable asset.

Features

The airport is now a key East Coast international hub for United Airlines, serving 61 foreign destinations.
While driving from the district can still take about an hour, a Metro line expansion now provides a public transport option.

Dulles International Airport: Key Facts and Information

Location: Shanghai, China
Area: 39.9 km2 (15.4 mi2)
Owner: Shanghai Airport Authority
Operator: Shanghai Airport Authority
Establishment Date: Opened in 1999
Monthly/Yearly Revenue: Revenue information is not available.
Number of Runways: 3

9. Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)

Beijing Daxing International Airport proudly claims the title of “the world’s largest airport” on its website, although this assertion is not entirely accurate. Nevertheless, it undeniably falls within the category of mega-airports, boasting one of the world’s largest single-building terminals covering an impressive 7.5 million square feet—equivalent to more than 98 soccer pitches.

Features

The airport, built by the late famous architect Zaha Hadid, opened in 2019 with a goal of handling 100 million passengers by 2040.
Not only are plans in the works to enhance passenger facilities, but also to increase the number of runways from four to seven.

Beijing Daxing International Airport: Key Facts and Information

Location: Cairo, Egypt.
Area: 36.3 km2 (14 mi2)
Owner: Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation
Operator: Cairo Airport Company
Establishment Date: Opened in 1963
Monthly/Yearly Revenue: Revenue information is not available.
Number of Runways: 5

10. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH)

In the late 1950s, Houston city authorities displayed ambitious foresight when acquiring land for a new airport. Over the ensuing decades, this vision materialised into the expansive reality of the airport’s current size, reflecting the city’s enduring commitment to grand aspirations.

Features

George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston presently has five runways, allowing it to accommodate a large number of long-distance flights to Latin America and beyond, with Houston serving as United Airlines’ main hub.
Additional development proposals include a new combined terminal D and E, which is expected to operate in early 2025.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport : Key Facts and Information

Location: Bangkok, Thailand.
Area: 32.4 km2 (12.51 mi2)
Owner: Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited
Operator: Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited
Establishment Date: Opened in 2006
Monthly/Yearly Revenue: Revenue information is not available.
Number of Runways: 6

Busiest Airport in the World 2024

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, holds the title of the busiest airport in the world. It serves as a major hub for domestic and international flights, connecting millions of passengers each year. Its strategic location and numerous terminals make it a crucial gateway for travellers across the globe.

Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World

Rank	Airport Name	Location	Passengers (2022)
1	Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport	Atlanta, Georgia, USA	Over 100 million
2	Beijing Capital International Airport	Beijing, China	Over 70 million
3	Los Angeles International Airport	Los Angeles, California, USA	Over 70 million
4	Dubai International Airport	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	Over 70 million
5	Tokyo Haneda Airport	Tokyo, Japan	Over 70 million
6	Chicago O’Hare International Airport	Chicago, Illinois, USA	Over 60 million
7	London Heathrow Airport	London, United Kingdom	Over 60 million
8	Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport	Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA	Over 60 million
9	Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport	Guangzhou, China	Over 60 million
10	Denver International Airport	Denver, Colorado, USA	Over 60 million

Smallest Airport in the World 2024

Barra Airport in Scotland is often considered one of the smallest airports in the world. It’s unique in that it uses its beach as a runway, and its facilities are quite limited compared to major international airports. While not the tiniest by land area, its simplicity and remote location make it stand out.

Airport Name	Location
Barra Airport	Scotland
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport	Saba, Caribbean
Tenzing-Hillary Airport	Lukla, Nepal
Don Mueang International Airport	Bangkok, Thailand
Gibraltar International Airport	Gibraltar Runway

Conclusion

Want to know which airport is the largest in the world? King Fahd International Airport, located in Saudi Arabia, is considered the largest in terms of size. In the above article, we have provided a complete list of the world’s largest airports. Also, find out about the busiest and smallest airports in the world.