Although the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on
the global airline industry over the past year and a half, airports across the
United States continue to see millions of passengers pass through their doors
every month. That being said, though, COVID-19 has reshuffled the rankings for
which airport is the biggest and busiest in the nation.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 busiest and largest airports
in the United States and explore what makes them such influential travel hubs
for not just the US but the entire world. We should state ahead of time that
these rankings were compiled based on the total number of passengers
transported through each airport, not the number of flights.
You can find a list of the ten largest US airports by
landmass here:
Image by Joe Nazarian via FlickrHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has
quite the reputation to uphold. For years, it’s been known as the world’s
busiest airport, thanks to its prime location as a connecting hub for much of
the world. However, ATL lost this distinction earlier in 2021 to Guangzhou
International Airport in China.
Since then, ATL has reclaimed the top spot and is on track
to maintain it into the future. Regardless of its international ranking, ATL is
by far the busiest airport in the US. Currently, you can fly to 150 different
domestic locations as well as 75 international destinations through
Hartsfield-Jackson’s 2 terminals, 7 concourses, and 195 gates.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is also
home to Delta Airlines, which contributes most of the millions of passengers
who pass through the transportation hub. You may expect to find hordes of
people milling about, trying to make it through the crowds, but thanks to ATL’s
unique design and underground train system, it’s actually been ranked as one of
the world’s best and most efficient airports.
You can also thank the tens of thousands of workers currently employed at Hartsfield-Jackson for ensuring that your baggage arrives on time, you travel safely and have access to all the comforts and amenities you’d expect at the world’s busiest airport.
It‘s no surprise that Dallas/Fort Worth International
Airport (DFW) is the second-largest and busiest airport in the nation. It’s
held this title for many years now, even throughout the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic. This is largely thanks to American Airlines. As the headquarters and
largest hub for American Airlines, Dallas/Forth Worth draws in millions of
American and international travelers hoping to transfer to their next flight.
Just like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, DFW is a massive
connecting hub, taking in and sending travelers across the globe. Currently,
you can fly to 149 domestic locations or 51 international destinations across
Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Australia.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport consists of five separate terminals with over 170 gates and 7 runways. This makes it one of the largest airports in the nation, requiring more than 200,000 employees to staff flights, gates, security checkpoints, and the various other careers hosted by the airport. In fact, DFW is so large that it even has its own Zip Code.
Although it may not transport as many passengers as
Hartsfield-Jackson or Dallas/Fort Worth, in terms of sheer size, Denver
International Airport (DEN) is the largest airport in the nation and the
second-largest in the world. The only airport larger than Denver is the King
Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia.
The majority of passengers who fly through Denver
International Airport are destined for one of the 180 domestic locations
currently served by DEN. International passengers can fly to 28 locations in 14
countries around the world, including Japan, Germany, England, Mexico, and
Italy.
Interestingly, Denver International Airport is also home to
the longest commercial runway in North America.
Thanks to Denver’s high position in the Rocky Mountains, the air is thinner,
meaning that planes need an extra-long runway to create enough drag to slow
down for landing. All in all, it measures 16,000 ft, just under a full 5
kilometers.
Currently, Denver International Airport employs around
35,000 workers, making it one of the largest and most generous job creators in
Colorado.
There was once a time when Chicago O’Hare International
Airport (ORD) was the busiest transport hub in the United States but, over the
years, ORD has seen fewer passengers than before. Nonetheless, it’s still one
of the largest and busiest airports in the nation. As of 2019, it even managed
to surpass Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta in terms of how many flights left its
terminals.
Not only is Chicago O’Hare a major hub for American Airlines,
but it’s also the head office for United Airlines. The combination of two of
the world’s largest and most influential airlines has made ORD a powerhouse of
an airport. You can currently fly to 179 cities throughout the US or 54
overseas destinations on every major continent.
As of the date of writing, Chicago O’Hare consists of 4
terminals with 191 gates. However, an $8.5 billion fifth terminal is currently
under construction and is predicted to be finished by the end of 2021. The
fifth terminal will help alleviate some of the pressure on other terminals by
shifting domestic and regional travelers to a new concourse.