Guide to the Largest Airports of the USA
Would you believe it if we told you that the USA has 5 out of the world’s top 10 largest airports? Well, that’s true. It is also the owner of some of the busiest airports in the world, including some famous ones like the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. However, it would be good to remember that the busiest airports are not the largest.
The largest airports listed in this list are based on the terms of actual size and area covered. Here is the list of the largest airports in the USA for your reference. Flyopedia recommends that all travelers who are planning to book the US to India flights and vice versa have a look through for details about the airport.
1. Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Michigan
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is located in Michigan and covers 19.6 km square with 2 terminals and 6 runways. It was constructed on 2.6 km square of land originally, in 1929 on land that was bought by Michigan’s Wayne County. It still owns the airport at present.
The Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) handled a bit above 34 million passengers in 2017. In fact, the US Federal Aviation Administration predicts that the number of passengers will cross 60 million in about 20 years or less. The McNamara Terminal includes 3 concourses with 103 gates, used by Delta Airlines and its partners Air France and Aeromexico.
Concourse A has 62 gates, with 12 of them for international boarding and 10 of them that feature dual jet bridge loading and unloading, which is used to speed up deplaning. Concourse B and C are connected to Concourse A by a tunnel.
2. John F Kennedy International Airport, New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is the largest airport in New York, covering 21.04 km square of the eastern borough of Queens. The airport has 128 operational gateways divided into 6 terminals, 4 helipads, and 4 runways. In 2017, it handled 59 million passengers and had 446,459 airplane movements, making it the 27th busiest airport in the world.
Andrew Cuomo, New York Governor, announced in 2018 October that the airport will be undergoing a $13 billion expansion plan. It will consist of 2 new terminals, a ground transport network, and new upgrades to the security and runways. The work is expected to start by 2020 and finish by 2025.
From Terminal 1, SkyTeam alliance and other airlines operate international and domestic services. Delta Airlines fully uses Terminal 2 and operates its chief international flights from Terminal 4, including last-minute flights to India. JetBlue Airways manages Terminal 5, although it is used by other airlines. Aer Lingus services also use Terminal 5, as it has pre-cleared immigration from Ireland.
As part of a lease with the airport, British Airways manages Terminal 7. The lease will last till 2022 with an optional 3 years and it has plans to spend approximately $65 million to upgrade the terminal.
3. San Francisco International Airport, California
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) covers 21.07 km square and is located 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco in California. In 2017, this airport managed more than 55 million passengers, thereby making it the 24th busiest airport in the world. At the airport, there are 4 terminals, which include the International Terminal.
It was named the biggest international airport terminal in North America when it opened in 2000, covering 1.8 million square feet. It was also the first in the world to have gates that we’re able to fit the Airbus A380 double-decker airplane. Terminal 1 has boarding areas B with 24 gates and C with 10 gates.
Terminal 2 is the airport’s oldest terminal, built-in 1954, and Terminal 3 consists of boarding areas E and F with 39 gates. Terminal 3 is operated by United Airlines to manage domestic flights.
4. O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois
O’Hare International Airport (ORD) covers 30.86 km square in the northwest region of Chicago, Illinois. In this list, O’Hare is the busiest airport and the 6th busiest airport in the world. In 2017, it handled 79 million passengers and experienced 867,049 aircraft movements.
There are 7 runways at the airport and 8 more are under construction presently. The construction was expected to be completed by 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic COVID19. The airport has 4 terminals and 9 concourses.
Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are used for domestic flights across the US and to destinations that have border clearance, including the US to Delhi flights. Terminal 5 is the one used for international arrivals of flights as it is the only one on-site with a customs screening facility available.
Also Read: India Will Soon Resume International Flights
