World's Largest Airports: Airport Sizes Compared

The world's biggest airports have been compared in a new study. The research, which was conducted by the British firm airspaceintelligence.com, looked at the size of airports around the globe and ranked them according to their total area.


Mon Sep 19, 2022

Unsurprisingly, the biggest airport in the world is also the busiest - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the US. Covering a whopping 5,880 hectares, it's more than twice the size of London Heathrow, which comes in at number two on the list.
The world's largest airports come in all shapes and sizes.
Some, like London's Heathrow Airport, are massive multi-terminal affairs handling millions of passengers each year. Others, like Denver International Airport, are single-terminal behemoths that sprawl across acres of land. Still others, like Hong Kong International Airport, are compact and efficient operations that make the most of every square inch.


What all of these airports have in common is that they are able to handle a large number of passengers and aircraft that pass through their gates each day. They do this in a variety of ways, from having multiple runways to employing the latest technology to keep things moving smoothly.
No matter their size or location, the world's largest airports are always busy places.

 

The world's largest airports by land area
The world's largest airport by land area is King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The airport covers an area of 78,000 acres (32,000 hectares). This makes it more than twice the size of the second largest airport, Denver International Airport.
King Fahd International Airport was built to accommodate the increasing number of passengers using Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia. The airport has four runways and can handle up to 60 million passengers per year. It is also home to the world's largest passenger terminal, which covers an area of 1.2 million square feet (110,000 square meters).
The airport is located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from downtown Dammam and is connected to the city by a network of highways.
As the world’s largest airports, Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Dubai International Airport (DXB) offer a wide variety of amenities and services for passengers. Beijing Capital International Airport is located just northeast of Beijing’s city center, within the Chaoyang District. The airport is the busiest in Asia, handling over 100 million passengers annually. Beijing Capital International Airport has three terminals, with Terminal 3 being the largest. The airport offers a wide variety of shopping and dining options, as well as free Wi-Fi throughout the facility.
Dubai International Airport is located in the Al Garhoud district, about 4 miles from Dubai’s city center. The airport is the busiest in the world, handling over 83 million passengers annually. Dubai International Airport has two terminals, with Terminal 3 being the largest.
If you're looking for a truly massive airport, you'll want to head to Atlanta, Georgia. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is not only the busiest airport in the world, handling over 103 million passengers in 2019, but it's also the largest, covering some 5,800 acres. Beijing Capital International Airport comes in second, covering nearly 3,500 acres, while Dubai International Airport rounds out the top three at just over 2,700 acres.


The world's largest airports by passenger traffic
As the world’s population and economy continue to grow, so does air travel. The world’s busiest airports are constantly expanding to accommodate the increasing number of passengers. Here is a list of the world’s largest airports by passenger traffic:
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – 103 million passengers

2. Beijing Capital International Airport – 94 million passengers 

3. Dubai International Airport – 89 million passengers

4. Los Angeles International Airport – 84 million passengers

5. Tokyo Haneda Airport – 81 million passengers

These five airports handle a combined total of over 460 million passengers every year! That’s almost half a billion people passing through these airports annually. With such high numbers, it’s no wonder that these airports are constantly busy and expanding.

 

The world's busiest airports by cargo traffic
The world's busiest airports by cargo traffic may not be the largest airports, but they handle the most air cargo. In 2013, Memphis International Airport handled the most air cargo of any airport in the world, followed by Hong Kong International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
Memphis International Airport is the home of FedEx Express, which is the world’s largest express transportation company. More than 4 million packages and documents are shipped through Memphis every day.
Hong Kong International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, handling more than 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo each year. The airport is a major hub for Cathay Pacific Airways, which transported more than 33 million passengers in 2013.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport handled more than 50 million passengers and 3 million tons of cargo in 2013. 


The world's largest airports by number of runways

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport - 8 runways

2. Beijing Capital International Airport - 7 runways

3. Dubai International Airport - 6 runways

4. Chicago O'Hare International Airport - 6 runways 

5. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport - 5 runways 

6. Charles de Gaulle Airport - 4 runways 

7. Los Angeles International Airport - 4 runways 

8. Hong Kong International Airport - 4 runways 

9. London Heathrow Airport - 3 runways

In conclusion, the world's largest airports vary in size, but they all play a vital role in air travel. These airports are able to accommodate a large number of passengers and flights that pass through them each day. They are also able to provide the necessary services and amenities that travelers need.

The Supply Chain Staff

A team of supply chain professionals