Air Travel's Wild Size Range
Travel doesn’t always scale the same way. Some airports feel like cities and process millions of flights annually, while others are a little more than a building and a single runway that serve just a few flights a day. Here are the 10 biggest airports in the world, and 10 of the smallest.
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
This airport has consistently ranked as the world's busiest airport by passenger numbers. You'll find Delta Air Lines using it as a major hub, with over 1,000 flights daily. Its layout, with two terminals and seven courses, is tight and efficient.
2. Dallas Fort Worth Airport: Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Everything's bigger in Texas—including this airport. Spanning 27 square miles, it’s larger than Manhattan. Opened in 1974, DFW connects travelers to over 250 destinations. American Airlines calls it its home turf.
Grant Wickes from Plano, TX (Dallas), USA on Wikimedia
3. Denver Airport: Denver, Colorado, USA
With curious murals, a roof shaped like the Rockies, and rumors of underground bunkers, DEN is built for stories. When it opened, it replaced the old Stapleton Airport. It's the largest U.S. airport by land and handles over 70 million travelers every year.
4. Chicago O'Hare Airport: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Born as an air force base in the 1940s, O'Hare turned into a global connector. Today, it's one of the few airports serving every continent except Antarctica. Expect delays—weather and traffic compete fiercely here. Still, its nonstop reach keeps Chicago on the map.
5. Los Angeles Airport: Los Angeles, California, USA
Beneath the Hollywood shine lies one of America's most essential international transit points. With nine terminals and celebrity sightings, LAX plays both gateway and symbol. It opened in 1928 and exploded in size after WWII. You'll notice the Theme Building's retro design.
6. Charlotte Airport: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Busy and underrated, CLT ranks among the top U.S. airports for aircraft movements. American Airlines has a major hub here. Its single terminal design helps speed up connections. If you're connecting through the East Coast, chances are you'll pass through here.
7. Orlando Airport: Orlando, Florida, USA
Tourists know it for Disney, but MCO moves serious numbers—over 50 million passengers annually, with a car rental service to match. Built in 1981 on a former Air Force base, it's one of the largest airports by land area in Florida.
elisfkc from Orlando, FL, United States on Wikimedia
8. Guangzhou Airport: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
This China Southern Airlines hub served over 40 million passengers in 2020, the most globally that year. It opened in 2004, replacing Baiyun Airport, and its four runways and dual-terminal system keep China's southern coast moving.
9. Chengdu Airport: Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Tianfu International opened in 2021 and is Chengdu's second major airport. High-speed rail and aviation meet at this sleek newcomer to the global stage and make western China more accessible than ever. It eases pressure on Shuangliu Airport.
10. Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Once called McCarran, this airport sits just minutes from the Strip. Since its 1948 launch, it's grown into a major leisure hub. Slot machines greet you at the gates. MGM Grand and other resorts send millions through these terminals each year.
Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on Wikimedia
Enough of the giants. Let's check out the smallest ones that keep travelers in motion.
1. Juancho E Yrausquin Airport: Saba, Caribbean Netherlands
Only 1,312 feet of usable runway makes this the shortest commercial strip on Earth. Sitting along cliffs, it mainly serves island hoppers via small turboprops. You'll land with the ocean on both sides—no margin for error.
Richie Diesterheft from Chicago, IL, USA on Wikimedia
2. Charles Kirkconnell International Airport: Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands
Quiet, compact, and bathed in sea breeze, this airport connects you to Grand Cayman and seasonal U.S. routes. It's named after a local politician and built for short-haul simplicity. Baggage claim takes seconds. For travelers, that's part of the charm.
Jack Kennard from Atlanta, USA on Wikimedia
3. Moshoeshoe I Airport: Maseru, Lesotho
Lesotho's main gateway isn't much larger than a neighborhood mall. Opened in 1985 and named after a national king, it serves mostly regional flights. Located in the highlands, it often experiences fog and wind. Operations here require steady hands and low traffic.
Flying out of Maseru, Lesotho 🇱🇸 | Airlink Avro RJ85 by NSH Aviation
4. Barra Airport: Barra Island, Scotland, UK
You won't find a traditional runway here. Barra is the only airport where planes land directly on a beach. Low tide sets the schedule. Twin Otters skim across wet sand and lift off past surf. For aviation enthusiasts, this spot is pure magic.
5. Morgantown Municipal Airport: Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
This 1949 regional airport punches above its weight with essential service to Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Via small carriers like Southern Airways Express, it connects rural communities to the national grid. Expect quick security and zero crowds.
United States Geological Survey (USGS) on Wikimedia
6. Tenzing Hillary Airport: Lukla, Nepal
Carved into the Himalayas at 9,334 feet, this airstrip was named for Everest pioneers Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. It's the starting line for Everest treks. With cliffside drops and a sloped runway, landings here are adrenaline-fueled, and the weather decides who flies.
Icicles Adventure Treks on Wikimedia
7. Luang Prabang Airport: Luang Prabang, Laos
This airport brings modest tourist traffic to its UNESCO-listed city with just a few gates. Renovated in 2013, it's designed to match the town’s slower rhythm. Flights from Thailand and Vietnam land here quietly.
8. Dawson Community Airport: Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
Snow, gravel, and gold rush vibes define this northern outpost. Serving fewer than 20,000 passengers a year, it links to Whitehorse and seasonal destinations. Runways are gravel-surfaced, and bears occasionally wander nearby.
Dawson City Airport by Ian Hillman
9. St. Barts Airport: Gustaf III, Saint Barthélemy
This runway ends at a beach and starts over a hill. Small propeller planes dive low above traffic to land here. Named for Sweden's King Gustav III, the airport is scenic and famously intense. Pilots require special certification just to use it.
David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada on Wikimedia
10. Svalbard Airport: Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
Sitting just 800 miles from the North Pole, Svalbard is the world's northernmost commercial airport. It operates on permafrost and serves Arctic researchers and residents. During winter, it's all night—no daylight. Bring a headlamp and a thick jacket.
