Biggest Airport In The World: Discover The Incredible Feats of Engineering

Publish date: 2024-04-19

The biggest airports in the world are those that cover the biggest land areas, and while some of them are also among the world’s busiest, this isn’t universally the case.

Airlines are expanding their aircraft fleets and opening up new routes in response to the surging demand for air travel.

Some of these sizeable airports are focusing on ambitious plans for future expansion, while others have unique tales behind how and why they acquired and maintained their substantial land footprint.

 King Fahd International Airport

Located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, King Fahd International Airport is arguably the largest airport globally in terms of its extensive land area.

King Fahd Airport boasts an impressive infrastructure, covering approximately 776 square kilometers, with the airport facilities occupying 36.8 square kilometers.

Its construction started in 1983 and reached completion on November 28, 1999.

During the Gulf War, it served as a vital US airbase.

Comprising three terminal buildings, the primary terminal itself spans 3.42 million square miles.

While it accommodates over 10 million passengers annually, securing its rank as the third-largest airport in Saudi Arabia regarding passenger traffic.

However, it plays a somewhat smaller role in civilian air traffic, serving around 10 million passengers annually.

In this aspect, other key Saudi Arabian airports, such as those in Riyadh and Jeddah, surpass King Fahd in terms of passenger numbers.

On its official website, the airport provides specifics about its commercial airport footprint, which spans roughly 14 square miles, still securing its position among the world’s top 20 largest airports.

Remarkably, Guinness World Records recognizes King Fahd Airport as the planet’s largest airport, based on its vast land area.

 Top 10 Biggest Airports In The World:

1. King Fahd International Airport

King Fahd International Airport, located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, is the world’s largest airport by land area, covering about 776 square kilometers.

The airport boasts three terminal buildings, with the main terminal occupying 3.42 million square miles of land.

While it’s enormous in size, it primarily serves around 10 million passengers annually, making it the third-largest airport in Saudi Arabia in terms of passenger traffic.

Despite its vast size, King Fahd Airport’s civilian operations host 10 million passengers annually, a smaller figure compared to other major Saudi airports like Riyadh and Jeddah.

2. Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport, in its sheer enormity, stands as a testament to wide-open spaces.

Remarkably, it dwarfs other major U.S. airports, such as Dallas/Fort Worth, with more than double the land area.

This spaciousness is a deliberate choice dating back to the early 1990s when Denver opted to construct the airport 25 miles from the city center, significantly farther than its predecessor, Stapleton.

This strategic location provided ample space for the creation of six runways, with room for a potential six more in the future.

Recently, the airport underwent a terminal expansion that introduced 39 additional gates, bringing the total gate count to 161 across its three terminals, marking a substantial 30 percent capacity increase.

Notably, an 82,000-square-foot outdoor plaza is accessible to both travellers and the general public.

3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

DFW Airport, nestled between Fort Worth and Dallas, ranks as North America’s second-largest and the world’s third-largest airport in terms of land area.

Established in September 1973, this large airport covers an area covering 69.6 square kilometers.

Notably, DFW Airport operates with its own ZIP Code and boasts a dedicated emergency services team, fire protection unit, and police presence.

It currently has five terminals but also have the capability to host up to eight additional terminals if the need arises.

In 2019, the airport achieved a historic milestone, serving a record-high of 75 million passengers.

4. Orlando International Airport

Orlando International Airport, located approximately 6 miles from Orlando, Florida, proudly holds the title of the state’s most bustling aviation hub.

It manages a remarkable volume, with over 850 daily flights connecting travelers to 135 different destinations.

Spanning across an expansive area of 53.8 square kilometers, this airport’s history dates back to 1942 when it operated as a US Army Airforce establishment.

In 2019, Orlando International Airport efficiently handled a staggering 50.6 million passengers.

5. Washington Dulles International Airport

Dulles Airport stands as a pivotal aviation hub in the greater Washington-Baltimore vicinity, nestled within the boundaries of Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in Virginia.

Positioned at a distance of roughly 42 kilometers from the heart of Washington DC, this airport carries the distinguished name of John Dulles, who held the role of the United States’ 52nd Secretary of State.

Extending across an impressive 52.6 square kilometers of land, Dulles Airport plays host to a substantial annual passenger count, more than 24 million, and offers connections to over 125 diverse destinations.

6. Beijing Daxing International Airport

Located in China, BDIA stands as the 6th largest airport in the world in terms of its physical size.

Known by the nickname “Starfish,” this airport is located at the Beijing-Langfang border, about 65 kilometers to the south of Beijing Capital International Airport.

Its construction began in December 2014 and was completed on June 30, 2019.

The total cost of building this airport is summed up to a total cost of $17 billion.

It boasts a massive terminal spanning 7.5 million square feet, covering an expansive 18-square-mile area of land.

7. George Bush Intercontinental Airport

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, covering 44.5 sq km, lies 37 km north of Houston, Texas.

It’s Texas’ second busiest, serving 45.3 million passengers in 2019 and ranking 47th in the world.

Opened in 1969, it has five terminals, initially named Houston Intercontinental Airport, later renamed in honor of George H. W. Bush in 1997.

8. Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Shanghai Pudong International Airport, situated 30 km from Shanghai, covers 39.9 sq km is arguably the 8th largest airport in the world.

One of Shanghai’s two airports, it primarily caters to international travelers.

It commenced operations on October 1, 1999, with two terminals and an upcoming third.

The airport can handle up to 60 million passengers each year and connects to over 210 destinations.

9. Cairo International Airport

Cairo International Airport, Africa’s largest and second busiest, covers 37 sq km in Heliopolis, located 15 km east of Cairo.

It serves as the main hub for Nile Air and EgyptAir and has three primary terminals and a seasonal flight terminal.

Originally a US Air Force Base, it changed to Civil Aviation Management in 1963.

10. The Bangkok Airport

Suvarnabhumi Airport stands as the largest in Southeast Asia, covering 32.4 square kilometers.

Its name, is “Suvarnabhumi,” which means “Golden Land.”

Positioned in Bang Phil, Samut Prakan Province, Bangkok, Thailand, it was officially opened on September 28, 2006, with a construction price tag of $5 billion.

Boasting two runways capable of hosting 64 flights per hour, the airport’s yearly capacity reaches 45 million passengers.

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