Top 15 busiest US airports

1. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) - 103.9 Million Passengers

The chief reason why ATL is the busiest airport in the US is its favorable geographic location which makes it perfect as a connection hub. It deserves 150 domestic and 70 international destinations.

Not only that, it’s also a hub for one of the largest airlines in North America: Delta Airlines passengers account for a high proportion of passenger traffic in Atlanta Airport.

You might expect chaos to reign there, considering the sheer amount of people striding across the halls, especially since it isn’t one of the largest airports in the US. And yet, you’d be wrong to assume that: on the contrary, Hartsfield–Jackson has been elected the most efficient airport in the world… 19 years in a row!

2. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - 84.5 Million Passengers

LAX is the international airport acting as the gateway to Los Angeles, California. Its new terminal is dedicated to travellers from Asia and the Pacific.

Second biggest airport by passenger traffic, it’s also one of the largest airports of the US West Coast, alongside San Francisco International Airport.

Adding to the prestige of LAX is the fact that it is the only US airport designated as a hub by four US legacy airlines (Alaska, American, Delta, and United).

3. O’Hare International Airport (ORD) - 79.8 Million Passengers

Chicago O’Hare held the #1 spot of busiest US airports by number of passengers from 1963 to 1998. It was the first major airport planned during the post-WWII era.

Chicago’s international airport serves close to 230 destinations spread over all continents and acts as a hub for both American Airlines and United Airlines. Passenger traffic registered in ORD has kept rising since the early 2010s.

4. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) - 75 Million Passengers

American Airlines’ largest hub is a monster that accommodated about 75 million air passengers in 2019 but also ranks #2 of the largest US airports.

Get that: Dallas Airport is so big that it has its own ZIP code (75261) and postal service designation.

Texas’ busiest airport serves 260 destinations: 193 domestic airports and 67 destinations abroad.

DFW is largely recognized as a technological pioneer among US airports, with a team dedicated to bringing new passenger-friendly innovations to the airport facilities.

5. Denver International Airport (DEN) - 61 Million Passengers

Another giant, Denver Airport is perhaps more famous for being the largest US airport (see ranking below) and for having the longest public use runway in North America. Runway 16R/34L is also the seventh longest in the world, boasting 16,000 feet (4.88 km).

Den serves 215 destinations, including 189 US destinations, making it the airport with the second-largest domestic network.

6. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) - 61 Million Passengers

Located in Queens, New York, JFK is the busiest international air passenger gateway into North America.

It is used as a hub by American Airlines and Delta only, but over 90 airlines operate their flights from there.

But it’s not only remarkable for being a center for the international flight network: JFK airport also has an Ark dedicated to handling animals of all sorts.

7. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) - 56 Million Passengers

If it weren’t for LAX, San Francisco’s airport would be the busiest of California. But SFO can only claim the title of busiest airport in the Bay Area.

However, it is larger in size than LAX.

A major gateway to both Europe and Asia, it is also a major hub for United Airlines.

8. McCarran International Airport (LAS) - 51 Million Passengers

Located in Paradise - Nevada, not Heaven, LAS is more popularly known as Las Vegas Airport.

Most passengers take domestic flights to and from Los Angeles, the airport’s most popular route.

9. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) - 50 Million Passengers

The busiest airport in the Seattle metropolitan area, SEA is Alaska Airlines’s main hub. It’s one of the fastest-growing airports in terms of passenger traffic. Delta has increased its presence there for its routes to Asia.

It’s also a gateway to North America, Europe, the Middle-East, and Asia.

10. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) - 46 Million Passengers

Based in North Carolina, Charlotte Airport is American Airlines’ second-largest hub.

Being a civil-military airport, it is primarily known for being home to Charlotte Air National Guard BAse.

Honorable mentions

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