The Busiest Airports in the Country
Airports are major transportation hubs that connect people and goods from one part of the world to another. In the United States, airports play a critical role in facilitating domestic and international travel, and they are among the busiest in the world. But which airport is the busiest in the country? In this article, we take a closer look at the top-ranking airports in the United States and explore what makes them so busy.
Methodology: How We Determined the Busiest Airports
To determine the busiest airports in the United States, we analyzed data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA tracks the number of passengers boarding or disembarking at each airport, which provides a reliable measure of airport traffic. We used this data to create a ranking of the top 10 busiest airports in the United States, based on the total number of passengers that passed through each airport in 2019.
Top 10 List: The Busiest Airports in the Country
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- Denver International Airport
- JFK International Airport
- San Francisco International Airport
- McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
- Orlando International Airport
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport: A Closer Look
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest airport in the United States and the world, with more than 110 million passengers passing through its gates in 2019. The airport is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and offers direct flights to over 150 domestic and 70 international destinations. It is also home to the world’s largest airport terminal, measuring over 8 million square feet.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport: A Closer Look
Chicago O’Hare International Airport is the third-busiest airport in the United States, serving over 83 million passengers in 2019. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and American Airlines and offers direct flights to over 200 destinations worldwide. O’Hare airport is also a major economic contributor to the Chicago metropolitan area and supports over 450,000 jobs.
Los Angeles International Airport: A Closer Look
Los Angeles International Airport is the second-busiest airport in the United States, serving over 88 million passengers in 2019. The airport is a hub for several major airlines, including American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, and offers direct flights to over 90 domestic and 80 international destinations. LAX is also one of the largest employers in the Los Angeles area, supporting over 59,000 jobs.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: A Closer Look
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the fourth-busiest airport in the United States, serving over 75 million passengers in 2019. The airport is a major hub for American Airlines and offers direct flights to over 230 destinations worldwide. DFW airport is also an important economic engine for the Dallas-Fort Worth region, supporting over 200,000 jobs and contributing over $37 billion to the local economy.
Denver International Airport: A Closer Look
Denver International Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in the United States, serving over 69 million passengers in 2019. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and Southwest Airlines and offers direct flights to over 215 destinations worldwide. DEN airport is also an important economic catalyst for the Denver metropolitan area and supports over 269,000 jobs.
JFK International Airport: A Closer Look
JFK International Airport is the sixth-busiest airport in the United States, serving over 62 million passengers in 2019. The airport is a hub for several major airlines, including Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways, and offers direct flights to over 100 domestic and 150 international destinations. JFK airport is also a significant economic contributor to the New York metropolitan area, supporting over 250,000 jobs.
San Francisco International Airport: A Closer Look
San Francisco International Airport is the seventh-busiest airport in the United States, serving over 58 million passengers in 2019. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and offers direct flights to over 97 domestic and 47 international destinations. SFO airport is also a key economic driver for the San Francisco Bay Area, supporting over 46,000 jobs and generating over $10 billion in economic activity.
Conclusion: The Future of the Busiest Airports in the U.S.
The busiest airports in the United States play a critical role in connecting people and goods from around the world. As air travel continues to grow, these airports will face both opportunities and challenges. Airports will need to invest in infrastructure, technology, and sustainability to meet the demands of a rapidly changing travel landscape. By doing so, the busiest airports in the United States can continue to serve as engines of economic growth and innovation for years to come.
