These Are The Biggest Airports In The US In 2024, Ranked In Acres
In the realm of international travel and aviation, airports act as bustling access points to a wide range of destinations. As we enter 2024, connecting people, businesses, and cultures will still require the use of the biggest airports in the United States. These airplane hubs’ vast size and capacity to handle millions of passengers make them impressive. They offer a wide range of services and cover big territories. So, join us as we take a tour of the biggest airports in the US in 2024, ranked in acres, and analyze their outstanding facilities and infrastructure, as well as the important role they have played in the advancement of modern air travel. Learn more about these biggest airports in the US and book yourself cheap flight tickets to India from USA on Flyopedia soon!
The Top 10 Biggest Airports in the US, Ranked In Acres
The airports of the USA are ranked by their coverage area in terms of space they cover. Also measured in acres as given below. Go ahead and check out the size of the largest one.
- Denver International Airport: 137.26 km² (33,917 acres)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: 69.63 km² (17,050 acres)
- Orlando International Airport: 53.83km² (13301.683 acres)
- Washington Dulles International Airport: 52.6km² (12997.74 acres)
- George Bush Intercontinental: 40.5 km² (10,000 acres)
- Salt Lake City International Airport: 31.1 km² (7,700 acres)
- O’Hare International Airport: 30.9 km² (7,627 acres)
- San Francisco International Airport: 21.07 km² (5,207 acres)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport: 21 km² (5,200 acres)
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport: 19.6 km² (4,850 acres)
What Should You Know About These Airports?
Denver International Airport (33,917 acres)
Denver International Airport (DIA), the biggest airport in the US and North America. It is spread over 135.69 km2 (52.4 square miles). Despite its small size, in 2023 it processed 77.8 million passengers, making it the third busiest airport in the US and the sixth busiest in the world.
The airport has six runways totaling 4,200 feet in length. The 16R/34L runway is the longest in the country, measuring 16,000 feet and being used by the public. According to air transport rating company Skytrax, the airport was ranked 29th in the world as of 2018, which made it the highest position of any US airport.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (17,050 acres)
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has 174 gates total and five terminal buildings. It is located between the Texas cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and covers an area of 69.63 km² (26.9 square miles). With more than 80 million passengers processed in 2023, the airport ranked third in the world for volume of traffic. The automated Skylink people mover system connects the five terminals, A through E, over a distance of 7.74 kilometers (4.8 miles).
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Orlando International Airport (13301.683 acres)
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the third largest airport in North America, spanning 53.83 km² (20.8 square miles). It includes a helipad and four runways. Created as McCoy US Air Force Base in 1942, MCO served as a military installation. It was designated as a major hub airport in 1978, three years after it was opened as an international airport for civil use in 1976. It had handled five million passengers by then. Over 57 million passenger journeys and 405,925 aircraft movements were recorded at the airport in 2023.
Washington Dulles International Airport (12997.74 acres)
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is a 52.6 km² (20.3 sq mi) airport in Virginia, US, located 26 miles west of Washington, DC. The airport, one of the largest in the world, came in at number 28 in North America in 2023 with over 25 million passengers. The airport comprises a main terminal building, two midfield terminals, and four concourses overall. The main building houses US customs, ticketing, baggage claims, and the arrivals building. In 2009, it expanded to accommodate 2,400 people per hour.
George Bush Intercontinental (10,000 acres)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Houston’s primary airport. It sits 37 kilometers north of the city on a plot of land measuring 40.46 km² (15.6 square miles). The City of Houston owns it, and it serves as United Airlines’ second-largest hub nationwide after Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. In 2023, IAH handled over 46 million passengers and 399,805 aircraft movements. Three main entrances provide access to the five terminals, A through E, at the airport.
Salt Lake City International Airport (7,700 acres)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), which is four miles west of the city, is a 31.16 km² (12 square miles) airport with four runways and three helipads. The Airport serves as a hub for Corporate Air, Alpine Air Express, and Delta Air Lines. The TRAX system operated by the Utah Transit Authority provides service to the airport. It was extended specifically in 2013. TRAX network park-and-ride services allow visitors to the airport to save parking fees at SLC.
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O’Hare International Airport (7,627 acres)
O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is located in the northwest Chicago metropolitan area and covers an area of 30.86 km² (11.9 square miles). In 2023, it handled over 73 million passengers and 720,582 aircraft movements, making it the ninth busiest airport in the world. Nine concourses and four terminals make up ORD. While Terminal 5 is the only building on site with customs screening available. It is used for all international arrivals. The majority of flights within the US and to destinations with border clearance originate from Terminals 1, 2, and 3.
San Francisco International Airport (5,207 acres)
Located 21.07 km² (8.1 square miles) and 13 miles south of San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Downtown San Francisco, California, stands as a bustling urban hub. In 2023, the airport welcomed over 50 million people, solidifying its position as the 14th busiest in the US and the 30th busiest globally. Among its four terminals, the International Terminal holds a prominent place. Established in 2000, this airport terminal boasts a total area of 167,226 square meters (41.3 acres), thus claiming the title of the largest international airport in North America.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (5,200 acres)
Located in the eastern borough of Queens, John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport is the largest airport in New York, covering an area of 21.04 km² (8.1 square miles). Additionally, there are 128 operable gates, four runways, and four helipads dispersed among the airport’s six terminals. Furthermore, in 2023, it saw 480,793 aircraft movements and handled over 62 million passengers, ranking it as the sixth busiest airport in the US.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (4,850 acres)
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is situated in Michigan. It has two terminals and six runways spread over 19.6 km² (7.6 square miles). The airport was first built in 1929 on 2.6 km², or one square mile, of property that Wayne County, in Michigan, had purchased. The county currently owns Detroit Metropolitan. DTW had 290,238 aircraft movements and more than 31.4 million passenger transactions in 2023. Consistently rated in the top 20 busiest airports worldwide, it provides service to over 215 locations in the US, Europe, and Asia via 25 airlines.
Therefore, this ranking of the biggest airports in the US in 2024 by acres offers an overview of the extensive infrastructure that supports air travel worldwide. For those looking to book the cheapest business class flights to India from USA, Flyopedia is an excellent option as it provides them with a range of options to satisfy their travel aspirations. So, book your getaway with Flyopedia today!
Also Read: Top 5 Biggest and Busiest Airports in the USA – 2024 Edition