Top 50 US airports by size
Airports are essential infrastructure that connects cities, countries, and continents. In the United States, there are over 5,000 public-use airports, but only a few are considered major airports based on their passenger traffic and other factors. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies airports into four categories based on the size of aircraft that can use their runways. In this article, we will look at the top 50 US airports by size based on the number of passengers they handle annually.
Criteria for airport size
The size of an airport is typically measured by the number of passengers it handles annually. However, other factors such as the number of flights, cargo volume, and terminal size may also be considered. The FAA classifies airports into four categories: small, medium, large, and hub. Small airports have fewer than 10,000 annual passengers, while medium airports have between 10,000 and 50,000 passengers. Large airports have between 50,000 and 1 million passengers, and hub airports have over 1 million passengers.
Top 10 largest US airports
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – Atlanta, GA
- Los Angeles International Airport – Los Angeles, CA
- O’Hare International Airport – Chicago, IL
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – Dallas, TX
- Denver International Airport – Denver, CO
- John F. Kennedy International Airport – New York, NY
- San Francisco International Airport – San Francisco, CA
- McCarran International Airport – Las Vegas, NV
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – Seattle, WA
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport – Charlotte, NC
The top 10 largest US airports are a mix of major cities and airline hubs. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the largest airport in the US, handling over 100 million passengers annually. Los Angeles International Airport and O’Hare International Airport follow closely behind, both serving over 80 million passengers annually.
11-20 largest US airports
- Miami International Airport – Miami, FL
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – Phoenix, AZ
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport – Houston, TX
- Newark Liberty International Airport – Newark, NJ
- Orlando International Airport – Orlando, FL
- Logan International Airport – Boston, MA
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – Minneapolis, MN
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport – Detroit, MI
- Philadelphia International Airport – Philadelphia, PA
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport – Baltimore, MD
The next 10 largest US airports include a mix of regional and international airports. Miami International Airport is the largest airport in the southern US, while Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the largest airport in the southwestern US.
21-30 largest US airports
- LaGuardia Airport – New York, NY
- San Diego International Airport – San Diego, CA
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – Arlington, VA
- Salt Lake City International Airport – Salt Lake City, UT
- Washington Dulles International Airport – Dulles, VA
- Midway International Airport – Chicago, IL
- Tampa International Airport – Tampa, FL
- Portland International Airport – Portland, OR
- Honolulu International Airport – Honolulu, HI
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport – Honolulu, HI
The third set of 10 largest US airports includes some of the busiest airports in the country’s capital and the western US. LaGuardia Airport is the smallest airport on this list, handling just over 30 million passengers annually.
31-40 largest US airports
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport – Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Oakland International Airport – Oakland, CA
- Nashville International Airport – Nashville, TN
- Cleveland Hopkins International Airport – Cleveland, OH
- Kansas City International Airport – Kansas City, MO
- San Antonio International Airport – San Antonio, TX
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport – New Orleans, LA
- Pittsburgh International Airport – Pittsburgh, PA
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport – Raleigh, NC
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport – Hebron, KY
The fourth set of 10 largest US airports includes some of the fastest-growing airports in the country. Nashville International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport have seen significant growth in recent years, with both airports serving over 14 million passengers annually.
41-50 largest US airports
- Indianapolis International Airport – Indianapolis, IN
- Lambert-St. Louis International Airport – St. Louis, MO
- William P. Hobby Airport – Houston, TX
- Southwest Florida International Airport – Fort Myers, FL
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport – Austin, TX
- Sacramento International Airport – Sacramento, CA
- John Wayne Airport – Santa Ana, CA
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport – Anchorage, AK
- Portland International Jetport – Portland, ME
- Bradley International Airport – Windsor Locks, CT
The final set of 10 largest US airports includes some of the smallest airports on this list. Portland International Jetport and Bradley International Airport both handle just over 1 million passengers annually.
Which airline hubs are in the top 50?
Many of the top 50 largest US airports are also major airline hubs. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines are among the largest airlines in the US, and they all have multiple hubs within the top 50 airports. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the largest hub for Delta Air Lines, while Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the largest hub for American Airlines.
How do the top 50 compare globally?
The top 50 US airports are among the busiest in the world. However, they still fall short of some of the largest airports globally. For example, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the US but only ranks 2nd globally, behind Beijing Capital International Airport.
How have the rankings changed over time?
The rankings of the top 50 US airports have shifted in recent years due to various factors such as airline mergers, industry consolidation, and new airport developments. For example, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was once the largest airport in the US, but it has since been overtaken by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Additionally, airports such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport have seen significant growth in recent years due to their strategic locations and airline partnerships.
Conclusion: Importance of airport size
The size of an airport is an essential factor in determining its importance and economic impact on a region. Large airports can attract businesses, tourism, and investment, while smaller airports provide critical transportation infrastructure for regional economies. The top 50 US airports are among the largest and busiest airports in the world, serving millions of passengers annually and playing a vital role in the US economy.
References and further reading
- Federal Aviation Administration. (2021). Airport Categories. https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/categories/
- World Airport Traffic Rankings. (2021). Airports Council International.
- Top 50 US airports by size. (2021). Travel Daily News.
