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Top 10 Largest Airports in the World
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, four and a half billion passengers traveled annually on 42
million flights.
That number took a drastic dip in 2020 and had slowly been coming back.
In 2021, passengers totaled 2.3 billion, with 28 million flights conducted.
Although these numbers are still decidedly lower than in the past, there's no doubt that
travel continues to rise, and we learn to live with and navigate Coronavirus.
The world's largest airports took a massive hit to their businesses and are working diligently
to encourage travelers to take to the skies once again.
To do our part, let's inspire some wanderlust by reviewing ten of the largest airports in
the world.
Number ten.
Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Located in Bangkok, Thailand, Suvarnabhumi International Airport is in a prime location
to connect people to Europe, Asia, and more.
Unofficially known as Bangkok Airport, it is one of the largest international airports
in Southeast Asia, covering more than 8,000 acres.
Just make sure you stay vigilant when traveling through this airport.
Tourists and travelers often make easy targets for crime, but this transit area is worse
than most.
Illegal taxi drivers and tour guides belonging to established criminal groups prey on tourists
in the arrival area.
An expansion to the airport was planned for 2021 or 2022 but has been delayed to 2025
due to budget and COVID.
It will increase the capacity of the airport by 44 percent.
Number nine.
Charles de Gaulle Airport.
France's Charles de Gaulle Airport is the largest international airport in France and
opened its doors to passengers in 1974.
In 2019, it was the world's ninth busiest airport and is the busiest airport in the
European Union.
That honor would have fallen to Heathrow in London, except you know...Brexit.
An interesting claim to fame, the airport not only handled over 76 million passengers
in 2019, but it also moved a whopping 2.1 metric tons of cargo.
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Number eight.Cairo International Airport Serving as the largest and busiest airport
in Egypt, Cairo International Airport is the primary hub for EgyptAir and Nile Air and
serves other airlines.
As recently as 2020, it was named the busiest airport in Africa, seeing 15 million passengers.
Because the area sees so much seasonal tourism, the airport's fourth terminal is strictly
seasonal to account for the influx of traffic.
To further support tourism, the airport opened a luxury five-star hotel in front of Terminal
three in 2013.
It is linked to the terminal via a 230-meter (750-foot) skyway with a convenient moving
walkway.
Number seven.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
Located along the eastern Pudong coastline, this entry is one of two international airports
in Shanghai, China.
The airport also serves as critical transportation for cargo, with FedEx, UPS, and DHL each operating
their hubs.
In 2017, the airport had the distinction of being the third-busiest airport based on cargo
traffic.
This airway thoroughfare opened the world's largest stand-alone satellite airport terminal
buildings in 2019.
These buildings will allow 38 million passengers annually and provide 90 departure gates.
Number Six.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
We're judging the size of this Georgia-based airport a bit differently.
Although it might not have the most significant footprint of the airports on our list, it
does manage an incredible 300,000 passengers daily.
That totals over 100 million passengers each year.
Between Delta Airlines using the airport as a hub and the geographical location of the
airport in the South Eastern United States, it's no wonder it's such a busy airport.
For reference, the airport is within a two-hour flight of nearly 80 percent of the US commercial
population.
Employing over 60,000 employees, they are the largest employer in the city of Atlanta.
Number five.
Washington-Dulles International Airport Operating as the airport closest to the United
States' democratic center of Washington, DC, it moves 24 million passengers a year to the
125 destinations it serves.
President Eisenhower selected the airport's location in 1958, and President Kennedy dedicated
it in 1962.
A truly unique feature you'll find if you travel through this airport are the 19 mobile
lounges they operate.
They are used to transport passengers to aircraft not attached to the main terminal.
They protect travelers from inclement weather, and even today, only a couple of other airports
use this mode of transportation.
This airport can even host live performances from singers, musicians, and dancers, rounding
out the cultural experiences available at the airport.
Make sure to walk through the art and historical exhibits on your next layover, even if the
timing isn't right to catch a live performance.
Number four.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
This airport takes up plenty of space - it occupies two counties in Texas and touches
portions of four different cities.
The airport is larger than the island of Manhattan, New York, and ranks second in size for United
States airports.
The airport even has its own ZIP code and dedicated emergency services.
The largest hub at the airport belongs to American Airlines, headquartered close by.
Dallas/Fort Worth was granted a unique honor upon its opening in 1973.
It hosted the first landing of a supersonic Concorde in the United States.
Like many airports on our list, expansion plans are underway, but with ever-changing
timelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Number three.
Denver International Airport.
Our number three spot is not only the largest airport in North America but is also the largest
single employer in the state of Colorado, where it resides.
Although it is the third-largest airport globally based on footprint, it falls much lower on
the list of busiest airports.
Still, nearly 70 million passengers used the airport in 2019.
Number two.
King Fahd International Airport.
At nearly 300 square miles, Saudi Arabia's King Fahd International Airport would have
come in first on any list until our number one airport opened in 2019.
For ten years, it reigned as the world's largest airport.
Not surprisingly, the airport is named after the former King of Saudi Arabia, Fahd Ibn
Abdulaziz, and manages travel for more than 10 million passengers each year.
This is accomplished through three terminal buildings.
A six-story terminal accommodates mainstream passengers.
A second terminal supports private airlines, and a third terminal is reserved exclusively
for the royal family of Saudi Arabia.
The grounds were previously a US airbase used during the Gulf War but now sport more civilian-friendly
features.
A Mosque, built on the car park's roof, allows up to 2,000 worshippers and is surrounded
by meticulous landscaping.
The airport even sports its own plant nursery, including three greenhouses and nearly 400,000
square feet of green fields.
The nursery supplies the airport's own aesthetic plant needs, creating a unique and sustainable
source of flora.
Number one.
Beijing Daxing International Airport - Beijing, China
This final entry on our list recently knocked the champion off their pedestal.
Opening in September 2019, the starfish-designed airport is expected to become the world's
busiest, supporting 100 million passengers passing through by 2040.
The airport boasts more than 7.5 million square feet, nearly doubling the terminal area of
King Fahd International Airport.
The building has some truly unique features built-in.
Because of its design, passengers can move from security to their gate in less than ten
minutes.
Eco-friendly design elements are plentiful as well.
The massive property will have a much smaller impact on surrounding ecosystems with solar
panels, water management systems, and waste heat recovery.
Unfortunately, this airport had its grand opening not too long before COVID-19 changed
the world, slowing travel to a mere crawl for months.
While the world still navigates the Coronavirus and its subvariants, we can't wait to see
this airport operating at full capacity and living up to its expectations.
We hope you enjoyed our list today.
What airport from our list would you most like to experience firsthand?
What large airports have you used that didn't make this list?
Let us know down in the comments!
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Until next time!