Post Author
We’ve all seen those BIG buildings which host massive flying machines named “airplanes” in plenty, haven’t we?
And all of us have even been to that place to witness the sheer scale at which things are done, and that too in a highly organized manner.
Well, today, I have got you information about some of the biggest airports in the world. Majestic, big buildings, and infrastructure are doing their work at an unimaginable scale.
But amidst all this, we have to keep one thing in mind. The buildings won’t function all by themselves.
There are hundreds of people working behind the scenes to make international airports seem flawless. Right from a sweeper to the pilot, there are a huge number of people in between.
So before we start, let us thank them for making our experience with international airports so comfortable and promise ourselves to respect them whenever and however possible.
And now, enjoy this article which tells you about 11 of the world’s biggest international airports.
Biggest Airports (by Area)
1. King Fahd International Airport (DMM) – Saudi Arabia

The middle east Asian land of Saudi Arabia is home to the biggest international airport in the world, the King Fahd International Airport, world’s busiest airport.
Also known as the Dammam International Airport or simply Dammam international Airport or King Fahd Airport, it is situated in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
This massive international airport property is spread over 776 square kilometers. The Dammam International Airport has an annual passenger traffic of about 10 million passengers.
The international airport has two 4-kilometer-long runways and three terminal buildings: the Passenger Terminal, the Aramco Terminal, and the Royal Terminal.
The Passenger Terminal serves mainstream passengers, the Aramco Terminal is used by Aramco employees, and the Royal Terminal is reserved for the Saudi Royal family.
Between Dammam and Dubai international airport is the busiest route, the busiest airport in the world. Less than a two-hour flight (1 hour 20 minutes), the international airport has 70 weekly aircraft movements for the route.
2. Denver International Airport (DEN) – United States

The United States host the 2nd biggest international airport in the world, the Denver International Airport.
Also known as DIA, the international airport is situated in the western part of the United States and primarily serves Denver and the more significant Front Range Urban Corridor.
This enormous campus is spread over 135.7 square kilometers, with 5 runways of 3.6 kilometers each, one runway of 4.8 kilometers, and one terminal named – The Jeppesen Terminal.
As of 2019, the Denver International Airport saw passenger traffic of a mammoth 69 million + passengers, getting its name carved into the list of one of the busiest airports in the world of that year.
It serves as one of the hubs for United Airlines and Southwest Airlines. The busiest route in the busiest airport is between Denver and Cancún, Mexico, for which you can get direct flights almost anytime.
You will find beautiful works of art, which you probably won’t see anywhere else. From the Blue Mustang to unusual but beautiful murals, Denver international Airport is not just a conventional international airport.
3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)- United States

Another international airport on the list situated in the United States is the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. This one serves the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area in Texas.
The international airport’s campus is spread over 69.92 square kilometers, 2nd most extensive in the United States, with 7 runways – 4 runways of 3.96 kilometers each, and three runways of 2.5 kilometers, 2.7 kilometers, and 2.8 kilometers each.
The international airport also hosts 5 terminals: Terminal A, Terminal B, Terminal C, Terminal D, and Terminal E. The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport serves about 64 million passengers yearly.
The city of Cancún, Mexico, provides the busiest route to and from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, for which connecting flights and direct flights are available.
The international airport also is the hub for American Airlines, UPS Airlines, and Ameriflight.
As of 2019, it stood 10th in the world’s busiest airports list, based on the total number of arriving, departing, transferring, and direct transit passengers.
The international airport was placed between the likes of Paris Charles de Gaulle international Airport (France) (9) and the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (China)(11).
The Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport is the ninth (busiest airport) busiest international gateway in the U.S.
4. Orlando International Airport (MCO) – United States

In the city of Orlando is the 4th biggest airport – The Orlando International Airport. This international airport is one of the two that serve Orlando, the other one being Sanford International Airport.
The campus is spread across 48.56 square kilometers, with four runways – Two of 2.7 kilometers and 3.04 kilometers each, and two of 3.6 kilometers each.
The massive area also hosts one main terminal, divided into two terminals – Terminal A and Terminal B. As of 2019, the Orlando International Airport served a mammoth 50 million+ passengers.
It was the 26th busiest airport in the world as of 2020, standing a few ranks below the London Heathrow Airport of London (22), and the busiest airport in the U.S. Between London (England) and Orlando is the busiest airport route, with about 406 flights per week.
5. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) – United States

The Washington Dulles International Airport, or simply the Dulles International Airport, mainly serves the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Washington Dulles International Airport, located in Loudon and Fairfax County in Virginia, is the busiest airport.
Washington Dulles International Airport is the 5th international airport on this list. The international airport campus is spread across 48.56 square kilometers, with 4 runways – 2 of 3.5 kilometers each, 1 of 2.8 kilometers, and 1 of 3.2 kilometers.
The gigantic area also hosts one main terminal building. As of 2019, the Dulles International Airport served 24.9 million passengers, becoming one of the biggest and busiest airports in the US. Between Dulles and Denver is the busiest airport route, having 414 weekly flights.
6. Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) – China

Hailing as the 6th largest airport in the world is the Beijing Daxing International Airport, situated on the border of Beijing and Langfang, in the Heibei province of China.
The international airport serves the Beijing and Beijing-Tianjin-Heibei region.
It is the second international airport in Beijing, after the Beijing Capital International Airport. The campus is spread over 47 square kilometers, with 4 runways – 3 of 3.8 kilometers each and 1 of 3.4 kilometers.
The international airport has one terminal, but it is not an ordinary one. That “one” terminal is the largest single-building airport terminal globally, spread across 7.5 million square feet.
Just a year after opening, the Beijing Daxing International Airport hit the 10-million-passengers mark is the busiest airport.
It saw passenger traffic of more than 16 million passengers in 2020, making it the 49th busiest airport in the world of that year. The international airport also serves as one of the main hubs for China Southern Airlines.
7. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) – United States

Up next is the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, located in Houston, Texas, United States. George Bush Intercontinental Airport mainly serves the Greater Houston Metropolitan area, making it the main airport of that area is the busiest airport.
The George Bush Intercontinental Airport (intercontinental airport) campus is spread across 40.46 square kilometers, with 5 runways – 2 of 3 kilometers each, 1 of 3.6 kilometers, one of 2.7 kilometers, and one of 2.8 kilometers.
The George Bush Intercontinental Airport has 5 terminals, named Terminal A, Terminal B, Terminal C, Terminal D, and Terminal E.
As of 2019, the George Bush Intercontinental Airport served a massive number of 45.3 million + passengers and stood 37th on the list, a couple of places below the German Frankfurt Airport (35), in the list of busiest airports in the world (2020).
8. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) – China

Ranking 8th on the list of the world’s largest airports is one of the two main airports located in Shanghai, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, is the busiest airport.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is the prime hub for China Eastern Airlines – Shanghai Airlines and Air China.
Spread across an enormous 40 square kilometers, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport boasts of 5 runways – 2 of 3.4 kilometers each, 2 of 3.8 kilometers each, and 1 stretching 4 kilometers long.
The Shanghai Pudong International Airport has 2 terminals, named – Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is said to have the capacity to handle 80 million passengers, 555,000 flights, and 2.88 million tonnes of cargo.
As of 2019, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport served more than 76 million passengers, making it the 8th busiest airport of 2019, above the likes of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Netherlands), Seoul Incheon International Airport (South Korea), Indira Gandhi International Airport (India), and many others.
9. Cairo International Airport (CAI) – Egypt

The only African Airport in this list is the top hub for Egypt Air and Nile Air (along with several other airlines). The Cairo International Airport of Egypt stands as the 9th largest airport, is the busiest airport.
One of the biggest airports in the world, this giant is spread across 40 square kilometers. The international airport enjoys 3 runways – 1 of 3.9 kilometers, 1 of 3.3 kilometers, and 1 of 4 kilometers. The T1, T2, T3, and seasonal/ Hajj terminals have the Cairo International Airport as their home.
The international airport serves a passenger traffic of about 40 million passengers annually and one of the major airports or major international aviation hubs. The Cairo International Airport was once called “King Farouk 1st Airport”.
10. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) – Thailand

Thailand is host to the 10th airport on its list, which also happens to be the primary international airport of the Southeast Asian country, the Suvarnabhumi Airport, also unofficially known as the Bangkok Airport.
This airport is one of the two international airports serving the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, the other being Don Mueang International Airport.
The campus of Suvarnabhumi Airport is spread across 32.4 square kilometers, with 2 runways – 1 of 4 kilometers and one of 3.7 kilometers, and three terminals – International Terminals 1 and 2, and a Domestic Terminal.
It stood as the 19th busiest airport of 2019, with more than 65 million passengers. The international airport is the central hub for Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways International, Thai Smile Airways, and formerly Jet Asia Airways.
11. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) – France
France is home to one of the biggest airports in the world, the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Spread across an area of 32.3 square kilometers, the international airport has 4 runways – 2 of 2.7 kilometers each, 1 of 4.215 kilometers, and 1 of 4.2 kilometers.
The Charles de Gaulle Airport has 3 terminals and is the largest international airport in France. The international airport stood 9th, just a few spots below names like the Tokyo Haneda Airport (5), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (6), and others on the list of the world’s busiest airports, 2019, with a staggering 76 million + passengers, it was also the third busiest airport.
While it was the 9th busiest airport worldwide, the international airport was the second busiest in Europe. The Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport serves as a hub for Air France. It is one of the world’s largest and busiest airports.

12. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
With over 88 million passengers passing through Los Angeles International Airport has amazing 9 terminals, it is the world’s largest airport with international flights.
Los Angeles International Airport, the 5.4 square mile airport is also, after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the United States.
Epilogue
And with that, we end the list of the biggest airports in the world (by area). Some of these were not massive just by area, but they were the biggest and busiest airports across the globe. With each airport unique in its way, I brought you 11 massive airports.
The credit for the success of these airports goes to everyone, right from the maintenance team to the domestic and international passengers to the government and everyone else who has contributed to the growth, big and small, in between.
Over To You
I hope the article was helpful to you. Let us know down in the comments what do you think about such massive airports?
Comment down anything you want about the article in the comment box below because we crave your feedback.
And if there’s some interesting stuff about the topic you want to tell us about, feel free to drop it down in the comment box. We are always up for new information.
Last Updated on by Sathi