What is the largest airport in the world?
The world’s largest airport can be defined in several different ways, such as by surface area, number of passengers or air traffic. In this article, we look at these different perspectives and present the world’s largest airports according to different criteria.
Based on surface area
If you look at the size of airports based on surface area, the largest airport in the world is King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Saudi Arabia. This airport covers an incredible 780 square kilometers, making it the world’s largest airport in terms of surface area. Opened in 1999, the airport mainly serves Dammam city and the Eastern Province.
Based on the number of passengers
When looking at passenger numbers, the world’s busiest airport is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in the United States. Based on the number of passengers, this airport has been the busiest in the world for several years. In 2019, more than 110 million passengers passed through the airport. The airport serves as a significant hub especially for Delta Air Lines.
Based on air traffic
If you look at the amount of air traffic, i.e. flights taking off and landing, the world’s busiest airport is O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, USA. In 2019, O’Hare International Airport handled more than 900,000 flights. This airport is an important hub for both domestic and international flights.
Summary
The world’s largest airport can be defined in different ways depending on which criterion is used. Based on surface area, King Fahd International Airport is the largest, based on the number of passengers Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest, and based on the volume of air traffic, O’Hare International Airport is the busiest. Each of these airports is remarkable in its own way and serves millions of passengers every year.
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