World’s Largest Airports by Land Area Revealed
When people think of “big” airports, they often imagine bustling hubs teeming with passengers. However, size and busyness don’t always correlate. The largest airports globally are measured by their total land area, not passenger traffic. While some of these colossal airports are also among the busiest, many are not. Here’s a ranking of the world’s largest airports based on their land dimensions, compiled from airport publications, local government data, and sources like Guinness World Records.
What is the World’s Largest Airport?
Topping the list is King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Recognized by Guinness World Records, this airport spans an astonishing 300 square miles, making it the largest in the world. To put this into perspective, its size rivals that of entire countries, such as neighboring Bahrain. Despite its vast size, King Fahd International Airport is not the busiest, highlighting the distinction between airport size and passenger volume.
Largest Airport in the United States
In the United States, Denver International Airport (DEN) holds the title for the largest airport by land area, covering 53 square miles. This airport is more than twice the size of the next largest U.S. airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Denver International is renowned for its expansive outdoor spaces, including three post-security outdoor decks offering stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado plains. In 2022, the airport completed a major expansion, adding 39 new gates and increasing terminal capacity by 30%, further enhancing its infrastructure to accommodate growing passenger numbers.
Top 15 Largest Airports in the World
Here is a list of the 15 largest airports globally by land area:
| NAME | LOCATION | AIRPORT CODE | SIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. King Fahd International Airport | Dammam, Saudi Arabia | DMM | 300 sq miles |
| 2. King Khalid International Airport | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | RUH | 144.8 sq miles |
| 3. Denver International Airport | Denver, Colorado | DEN | 53 sq miles |
| 4. Kuala Lumpur International Airport | Selangor, Malaysia | KUL | 39 sq miles |
| 5. Istanbul Airport | Istanbul, Türkiye | IST | 29.5 sq miles |
| 6. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport | Dallas, Texas | DFW | 26 sq miles |
| 7. Southwest Florida International Airport | Fort Myers, Florida | RSW | 21.2 sq miles |
| 8. Orlando International Airport | Orlando, Florida | MCO | 20.7 sq miles |
| 9. Washington Dulles International Airport | Loudoun and Fairfax Counties, Virginia | IAD | 20.3 sq miles |
| 10. Beijing Daxing International Airport | Beijing and Langfang, China | PKX | 18 sq miles |
| 11. Kansas City International Airport | Kansas City, Missouri | MCI | 15.6 sq miles |
| 12. George Bush Intercontinental | Houston, Texas | IAH | 15.4 sq miles |
| 13. Pittsburgh International Airport | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | PIT | 15 sq miles |
| 14. Shanghai Pudong International Airport | Shanghai, China | PVG | 15 sq miles |
| 15. Cairo International Airport | Heliopolis, Egypt | CAI | 14.3 sq miles |
Key Takeaways
- King Fahd International Airport is the largest airport in the world by land area, covering 300 square miles.
- Denver International Airport is the largest in the United States, with a land area of 53 square miles.
- The list highlights that while some of the largest airports are also busy, size alone does not determine passenger traffic.
- King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur International Airport are also among the top in terms of size.
- Airports like Orlando International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport feature significant expansions to accommodate growing passenger volumes.
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