Have you ever been lost in an airport? Airports are more than just places where planes take off and land; they are massive hubs connecting people and countries worldwide. Some airports stand out because they are incredibly large and capable of handling millions of travelers every year. This article will explore the “Top 10 Biggest Airports in the World,” showcasing these immense structures that make global travel possible.
In this list, we’ll highlight airports known not just for their size but also for their vital role in international travel. These airports, spanning vast areas, play a crucial part in connecting different parts of the world, ensuring that people and goods move seamlessly across continents.
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Here Are the Top 10 Biggest Airports In The World
10: Suvarnabhumi Airport
Thailand starts this top with an airport that measures 8,000 acres or 12.5 square miles, the size of over 6,000 soccer fields. Suvarnabhumi Airport is served by 95 airlines and handles an average of 63 million passengers a year. It has the tallest freestanding control tower on this top at 434 feet; plus, five of its 120 parking stands can accommodate an Airbus A380. Its incredible size didn’t spare it from major obstacles. Before its opening in 2006, when it became known that the airport was over an ancient burial ground, a ceremony was held with 99 Buddhist monks to appease the ghosts that workers claimed to see.
Then, ruts were found in the runways as a result of using substandard materials. That wasn’t enough; as of 2017, eight people died falling from the top floor, so they spent nine hundred thousand dollars on glass barriers to prevent people from falling or taking their own lives. Is this airport cursed or what?
09: Cairo International Airport
Now let’s make a short stopover in Egypt. Here, the largest and busiest is Cairo International Airport, with an area of 9,142 acres or 14 square miles. It can handle 30 million travelers a year. The airport has four runways, the largest of which is 13,000 feet long and 213 feet wide. It’s so big that, for its passengers to travel comfortably and on time, Cairo International Airport has its mini-metro line that can carry up to 170 passengers free of charge in five minutes.
The mini-metro can travel through its four stations: Terminal 1, the shopping mall and multi-story garage; Terminal 2; and finally, Terminal 3. As you can see, moving through this airport is quite a journey. Also, if you need to stay for a few hours, you don’t have to go far. There’s a luxurious Le Méridien hotel with five stars and 350 rooms in front of Terminal 3.
08: Shanghai Pudong International Airport
This is the second-largest airport in China. It’s the hub for 104 airlines, including Juniao Airlines and Spring Airlines, serving over 210 destinations. However, Shanghai Pudong International Airport is notable for housing Asia’s largest DHL Express hub and is known for handling up to six million tons of cargo per year.
Thanks to its 9,884 acres or 15.4 square miles in size, it can serve up to 80 million passengers a year. In addition, its four terminal parallel runways, up to 13,000 feet long, can accommodate large aircraft such as Airbus A380s, Boeing 747s, and Antonov An-225s. The construction of this huge airport took two years and an investment of 1.67 billion dollars.
07: George Bush Intercontinental Airport
It’s the turn of the North American continent. In Houston, Texas, George Bush Intercontinental Airport spans 10,000 acres or 15.6 square miles and is one of United Airlines’ largest passenger hubs. It boasts five terminals and five runways that handle more than 45 million passengers a year. In 2020, this airport was recognized as the best airport in the US and the second best in North America by the World Airport Awards.
And how could it not be when it offers you a unique user experience with its leisure facilities, excellent food and beverage options, and a pet-friendly area? Plus, all terminals are connected by the skyway, so connecting passengers can continue their journey without having to go through another security checkpoint. Oh, and don’t forget about these cool interactive airport maps. George Bush Intercontinental Airport is home to a Marriott hotel with 573 rooms inside and can be accessed via the skyway, which runs every three minutes.
06: Beijing Daxing International Airport
This impressive airport in China will amaze you with its incredible starfish shape. At 11,600 acres or 18 square miles, it’s understandable that it took almost five years to build, and 11.5 billion dollars were invested. Beijing Daxing International Airport also boasts a 7,500,000 square-foot terminal, the size of 97 soccer fields, making it the largest single-building airport terminal in the world.
But those aren’t its only recognitions; in 2020, Airports Council International granted it the Best Airport Award for hygiene measures in Asia Pacific. Those who designed this airport thought of everything: travelers are scanned with cameras using facial recognition; some robots provide flight updates and airport information. It has a high-tech, high-end shopping mall, plus a China Garden in the international concourse and a koi carp pond.
05: Orlando International Airport
With a size of 12,600 acres or 19.6 square miles, this airport serves 140 domestic and international destinations. It’s a major international gateway for Florida, with over 850 daily flights from 44 airlines. As a result, Orlando International Airport broke all records from January through March 2022, welcoming an all-time high of 11.6 million passengers.
Although the airfield was originally built as a US Army Air Forces facility in 1961, all that was left behind now it’s become a real attraction center. What do I mean? Well, this airport has a Hyatt Regency hotel and several restaurants with the most varied food you can imagine. Even the new Terminal C under construction will have more than 15 new dining options.
04: Washington Dulles International Airport
It spans an area of 13,000 acres or 20.3 square miles, and despite being so large, this airport had to overcome harsh criticism in its early days. Dulles International Airport was initially considered a white elephant because it was far from the city and had few flights. However, it now handles a daily flow of over 60,000 passengers to and from more than 125 destinations worldwide. With such traffic and length, Dulles International Airport makes it easy for passengers as the Aerotrain has been shuttling passengers between the concourses and the main terminal in one minute since 2010.
On top of that, it’s been listed in the top 10 most kid-friendly airports by UpgradedPoints.com for its unlimited Wi-Fi access, charging stations, nursing areas, and airline lounges. But have you seen their play areas? Dulles International partnered with NASA to create a fun way where kids can slide down the Tommy Tower and climb aboard the Supersonic Jet and Hyperwing.
03: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
This airport is so big that it has its own ZIP code, serves more than 260 destinations with 26 airlines, and in April 2022, it ranked as the second busiest airport in the world with 62.5 million passengers. Its design allows for minimizing the distance between a local passenger and the aircraft; however, it can be a nightmare for connecting passengers as they must walk extremely long distances between gates because there are no shortcuts or moving walkways between terminal ends.
Can you imagine getting lost in an airport that is 17,207 acres or 27 square miles? Despite that, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is well on its way to becoming a landmark and positively influencing the local economy. In 2021, it set a major milestone by moving one million tons of cargo worldwide.
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02: Denver International Airport
You’ve arrived at the largest airport in North America, which also has the longest runway on the subcontinent at 3.03 miles. This allows fully loaded Airbus A380s or Boeing 747-8s to take off smoothly. Overcoming the altitude and high temperatures of the airport, would you believe me if I told you that the total size of Denver International Airport is more than one and a half times the size of Manhattan? That’s right; it occupies 33,531 acres or 52.4 square miles.
The airport is a hub for United Airlines, and Frontier Airlines, and is one of the largest operating hubs for Southwest Airlines. Due to its size, it’s one of Colorado’s largest employers with over 35,000 employees. With the flow of travelers that this airport handles, its highest peak in traffic is Memorial Day with approximately 210,000 passengers.
01: King Fahd International Airport
From Dammam, Saudi Arabia comes this mega airport with an extension of 191,753 acres or 300 square miles, which is approximately the size of the entire city of New York and larger than its neighboring country of Bahrain. No wonder it’s been recognized as the largest airport in the world by Guinness World Records. Its observation tower is 281 feet high, like a 30-story building. Currently, it can handle approximately 12 million travelers a year. This is because King Fahd International Airport has two incredible runways, each 2.5 miles long.
It also consists of three terminals, one of which is the Royal Terminal with an area of 177,000 square feet reserved for the Saudi royal family. Within its facilities, it has a mosque, duty-free stores, restaurants, and the Royal Hall dedicated to the royal family, government employees, and official guests. The busiest route at this large airport is to and from Dubai, with no less than 70 flights a week.