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Jetnexus Aviation Academy

Unveiling the World's Largest Airport | A Look into Aviation's Busiest Hub

Updated: Mar 8, 2024

1. King Fahd International Airport (78000 hectare)

Area: 299.61 sq. km

Owner: Government Authority of Civil Aviation

Operator: Dammam Airports Company

Opened: 28th November 1999

Key Points: Some of the important points related to world’s largest airport, king Fahd International Airport are as follows:

King Fahd International Airport is in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

It is the world’s largest airport at about 300 sq. miles.

It was a U.S. airbase during the Gulf War before becoming a passenger airport in 1999.

It is the third largest in passenger numbers in Saudi Arabia, with around 10 million travellers yearly.

The airport has 3 terminals, one for regular travellers, one for employees and one for the Saudi royal family.

The busiest route is to and from Dubai.

The main terminal has shops, restaurants, cafeterias and banks.

There is a fancy royal terminal too, even though it is not used much.


King Fahd International Airport (78000 hectare)
King Fahd International Airport

2. World’s Second Largest Airport: Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport | VISIT DENVER

Area: 135.7 sq. km

Owner: City & Country of Denver

Operator: City & Country of Denver Department of Aviation

Opened: 28th February 1995

Denver International Airport (DIA), located in Denver, Colorado, is the largest airport in the US and the second largest globally. Covering an immense 33,000 acres with a remarkable three-mile runway, it serves over 69 million passengers annually. DIA is a bustling international hub, hosting 25 airlines and providing access to 215 destinations. The airport boasts an underground train linking three concourses, stunning art installations, Rocky Mountain vistas, various lounges, message facilities and a plethora of shops and dining options.


World’s Second Largest Airport Denver International Airport
World’s Second Largest Airport: Denver International Airport

3. World’s Third Largest Airport: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Suffolk Awarded Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Terminal C Renovation | Suffolk Construction

Area: 69.9 sq. km

Owner: Cities of Dallas and Fort Worth

Operator: DFW Airport Board

Opened: 23rd September, 1973

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the world’s third-largest airport, serving North Texas. It is a major hub for American Airlines, headquartered nearby. Covering 17,000 acres with its own zip code and emerging services, DFW connects to 260 destinations via 28 airlines, serving over 73 million passengers. Inside, it resembles a mall with spas, lounges, business clubs, abundant shops, restaurants and two on-site hotels.


World’s Third Largest Airport Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
World’s Third Largest Airport: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

4. Orland International Airport

Orlando International Airport is a 3-Star Airport | Skytrax

Area: 53.8 sq. km

Owner: Greater Orlando Aviation Authority

Operator: Greater Orlando Aviation Authority

Opened: 1940

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a major international airport located 6 miles southeast of Downtown Orlando, Florida. It is the busiest airport in Florida and the seventh busiest in the United States, serving as a hub for several airlines and offering a wide range of domestic and international flights. MCO covers 11,605 acres, making it one of the largest U.S. airports by land area.


Orland International Airport
Orland International Airport

5. Dulles International Airport Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Area: 48.6 sq. km

Owner: United States federal government

Operator: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

Opened: 17th November, 1962

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is a major public airport in Dulles, Virginia, situated 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. It opened in 1962 and is named after John Foster Dulles. Operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, it is one of the largest U.S. airports by land area. Dulles serves as a significant hub for United Airlines and handles substantial international passenger traffic in the Mid-Atlantic region.


Dulles International Airport Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Dulles International Airport Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

6) Beijing decking international airport, PKX Beijing China

By total area, Beijing Daxing International Airport is the sixth-largest in the world. It sprawls over 18 square miles (46.6 square kilometers) of land. However, PKX tops the charts by another metric: terminal size.

All told, its terminal space is 7.5 million square feet (696,773 square meters), which is laid out in a star-shaped design to aid some inter-airline connections for passengers with international destinations.


Beijing decking international airport, PKX Beijing China
Beijing decking international airport, PKX Beijing China

7) George Bush, international airport, IAH Houston Texas

larger of Houston's two airports, George Bush Intercontinental, formerly Houston Intercontinental Airport, has a total area of 17.19 square miles (44.5 square kilometers). While it trails its Texas cousin DFW in total passenger traffic, it exceeds it in international arrivals and departures.

True to its name, the commercial airport offers flights to all the world's continents except Antarctica. It has been a major hub for United Airlines since a 2010 merger with Continental Airlines. Contained within the IAH acreage are five runways, five terminals and an on-site hotel.


George Bush, international airport, IAH Houston Texas
George Bush, international airport, IAH Houston Texas

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