Two major airports compared
When it comes to air travel, two of the biggest airports in the world are Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom and O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, United States. Both airports are major hubs for their respective countries and play a significant role in global transportation. In this article, we will compare the size and facilities between Heathrow Airport and O’Hare Airport, in order to determine which airport is bigger.
Overview of Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport is located in West London and is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom, as well as one of the busiest airports in the world. Heathrow serves as the main hub for British Airways and is a base for many other airlines, including Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. The airport has four terminals, with a fifth terminal currently under construction. Heathrow has two runways, with a third runway planned for construction. There are currently over 80 airlines serving over 180 destinations from Heathrow Airport.
Overview of O’Hare Airport
O’Hare International Airport is located in Chicago, Illinois and is the second busiest airport in the United States, after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. O’Hare serves as a hub for United Airlines and American Airlines and is a focus city for Delta Air Lines. The airport has four terminals and nine concourses, with a new Global Terminal currently under construction. O’Hare has seven runways, making it one of the busiest airports in the world in terms of aircraft movements. There are currently over 60 airlines serving over 200 destinations from O’Hare Airport.
Measuring airport size: different criteria
When comparing the size of airports, there are several criteria to consider. The most commonly used criteria are passenger traffic, number of runways, terminal and gate facilities, cargo and freight handling, and airlines and destinations served. However, there are other factors that can also be considered, such as the environmental impact of the airport and the overall size of the airport grounds.
Passenger traffic comparison
In terms of passenger traffic, Heathrow Airport handled over 80 million passengers in 2019, making it the seventh busiest airport in the world. O’Hare Airport handled over 83 million passengers in the same year, making it the sixth busiest airport in the world. Therefore, based on passenger traffic alone, O’Hare Airport is bigger than Heathrow Airport.
Number of runways at each airport
Heathrow Airport has two runways, with a third runway planned for construction. O’Hare Airport has seven runways, making it one of the busiest airports in the world in terms of aircraft movements. Therefore, based on the number of runways, O’Hare Airport is bigger than Heathrow Airport.
Terminal and gate facilities comparison
Heathrow Airport currently has four terminals, with a fifth terminal under construction. O’Hare Airport has four terminals and nine concourses, with a new Global Terminal currently under construction. Both airports have similar terminal and gate facilities, with O’Hare Airport having more concourses than Heathrow Airport. Therefore, in terms of terminal and gate facilities, both airports are comparable in size.
Cargo and freight handling comparison
Heathrow Airport is the third busiest airport in the world in terms of cargo traffic, handling over 1.5 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2019. O’Hare Airport handled over 1.5 million metric tonnes of cargo in the same year, making it the eighth busiest airport in the world for cargo traffic. Therefore, both airports are comparable in terms of cargo and freight handling.
Airlines and destinations served comparison
Heathrow Airport has over 80 airlines serving over 180 destinations, while O’Hare Airport has over 60 airlines serving over 200 destinations. Therefore, O’Hare Airport has more airlines and serves more destinations than Heathrow Airport.
Environmental impact comparison
Both Heathrow Airport and O’Hare Airport have a significant environmental impact, particularly in terms of noise pollution and air pollution. However, Heathrow Airport has been the subject of controversy due to its plans for expansion, which have been criticized for their potential impact on the environment. Therefore, in terms of environmental impact, both airports are comparable, but Heathrow Airport is facing more scrutiny.
Conclusion: Which airport is bigger?
Based on the different criteria used to measure airport size, it is difficult to determine which airport is bigger. O’Hare Airport has more runways and serves more destinations, while Heathrow Airport handles more passenger and cargo traffic. Both airports have similar terminal and gate facilities, and both have a significant environmental impact. Therefore, it is safe to say that both airports are comparable in size and importance.
Final thoughts and potential future changes
As global air travel continues to grow, both Heathrow Airport and O’Hare Airport are likely to undergo further changes and expansions in the future. Heathrow Airport’s plans for a third runway are currently on hold due to legal challenges and environmental concerns, while O’Hare Airport’s new Global Terminal is expected to be completed by 2028. It will be interesting to see how these changes affect the size and facilities of these airports in the years to come.
