The Biggest Airports in the World

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Since man first successfully took flight at the turn of the 20th century, air travel has become one of the world’s main sources for long-distance transportation. As the industry continues to grow, and prices continue to rise, a number of airports in some of the world’s largest and most popular cities are expanding while even larger ones are in the process of being built. Some airports cover only a few square miles while others are bigger than a small country. Millions of people from across the planet travel through the following airports every year. Scroll down to see the five biggest airports in the world in order of square miles.

5. Denver International Airport – 54.1 mi2

Covering an area of 54.1 square miles and with six separate runways in constant operation, Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the United States by total area. A hub for Frontier Airlines, Great Lakes Airlines, and United Airlines, DIA was the 15th-busiest airport in the world in 2013 with passenger traffic of  over 52 million.

4. Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport – 84.9 mi2

Located 20 miles southwest of Dubai, Al Maktoum International Airport was opened in 2010 as the main part of Dubai World Central, a planned residential, commercial, and logistics complex. Upon completion, it will include six 3-mile-long runways, underground parking for 100,000 cars, and will be able to handle four simultaneous landings.

3. King Khaled International Airport – 121.6 mi2

Founded in 1983, King Khaled International Airport serves the domestic and international needs of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The second largest airport in Saudi Arabia, KKIA features two parallel runways, a mosque, a royal gallery, a shopping center, a separate air cargo complex, and more than half a million square feet of surrounding desert plant landscaping.

2. Montréal-Mirabel International Airport – 153.1 mi2

Canada’s largest airport, commonly known as Mirabel, is a cargo airport located 21 nautical miles northwest of Montreal, Quebec. Mirabel’s predominant role is cargo flights while also being home to both MEDEVAC and general aviation flights. It used to be the largest airport in the world until the next airport on this list surpassed it in 1999.

1. King Fahd International Airport – 301.1 mi2

Located 12 miles northwest of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, King Fahd International Airport is the largest in the world. Before it was opened for commercial traffic in 1999, the airport’s infrastructure was used as an Allied Forces base during the first Gulf War. The airport currently serves the entire eastern region of Saudi Arabia and is larger than neighboring country Bahrain.

Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images

Written by Derrick Krom

Derrick is a recent graduate of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia where he received a B.A. in English and Communication Studies. Throughout his life, Derrick has traveled the country and even got to study abroad in London, England for four amazing months. He's a guitar player, avid music fan and lover of literature, film, and all things entertainment.