The US has some of the biggest and busiest airports in the world. We’ve compiled the top 10 busiest airports in the US in accordance with the annual passenger traffic. Read on to learn whether your airport has made it to the list or not.
Busiest Airports in the US
Here’s the list of the top busiest airports in the US.
Airport | Annual passenger traffic (2024) | Number of seats (2024) |
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) | 108,067,766 | 62,743,665 |
Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | 87,817,864 | 51,516,707 |
Denver International Airport (DEN) | 82,358,744 | 49,218,244 |
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | 80,043,050 | 46,992,360 |
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | 76,587,980 | 45,509,963 |
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) | 63,265,972 | 38,150,327 |
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) | 58,811,725 | 35,228,663 |
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) | 58,447,782 | 35,586,378 |
Orlando International Airport (MCO) | 57,211,628 | 34,269,851 |
Miami International Airport (MIA) | 55,926,566 | 32,391,050 |
Source: Aerotime
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

- With an annual passenger traffic of around 108 million, Atlanta Airport is the busiest airport in the US and the world. Since 1998, ATL has been the busiest airport in the US.
- Located 10.2 miles from Downtown Atlanta, the airport primarily serves Atlanta and its nearby metropolitan area. ATL is two hours away from major hubs like Dallas, Chicago, New York, and Houston, and a few hours away from Central America and the Caribbean.
- The airport offers over 1,000 daily flights to around 225 destinations. A primary hub for Delta Air Lines, it also serves as an operating base for airlines like Spirit, Southwest, and Frontier.
- Orlando and Cancún, Mexico, are the busiest routes from ATL Airport.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

- With an annual passenger traffic of around 82.35 million, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is the second-busiest airport in the US and the third-busiest globally.
- Covering an area close to 17,207 acres, DFW is also the second-largest US airport.
- The airport offers continuous services to more than 250 destinations, more than any of the country’s airports.
- DFW operates as American Airlines’ main hub, the second-biggest single-airline hub globally. Los Angeles and Cancún, Mexico, are the busiest routes from DFW Airport.
Denver International Airport (DEN)

- Denver Airport is not only the biggest airport in the US and the second-biggest in the world, but also one of the world’s and the country’s busiest airports. Currently, DEN has an annual passenger traffic of around 82.35 million.
- It covers an area of around 33,531 acres.
- Located around 22.4 miles from Denver, it is one of the key hubs for United Airlines. The airport serves more than 215 destinations globally via 25 airlines.
- Las Vegas and Cancún, Mexico, are the busiest routes from Denver Airport.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

- O’Hare Airport was the busiest airport globally regarding passenger traffic from 1963 to 1988. Currently, the airport has an annual passenger traffic of around 80 million.
- ORD offers non-stop flights to nearly 214 destinations in the Caribbean, South America, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, Africa, and the North Atlantic, making it the world’s best-connected airport.
- O’Hare is an important hub for United Airlines and American Airlines.
- The busiest routes from ORD are to Los Angeles and London–Heathrow, UK.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

- With an annual traffic of nearly 76.5 million passengers yearly, LAX Airport remains one of the busiest airports in the US and the world.
- Located 18.6 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, LAX is the main airport for Los Angeles and its nearby metropolitan area.
- LAX is a hub for American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.
- The busiest routes from LAX are to New York–JFK and London–Heathrow, UK.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

- With a yearly average passenger traffic of close to 63.2 million, JFK is the sixth busiest airport in the US.
- Located around 19.1 miles from New York City, JFK is the busiest airport within the New York Airport system.
- The airport offers flights to around 200 destinations via 93 carriers. It is the main hub for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines and a focus city for JetBlue.
- Los Angeles and London–Heathrow, UK, are the busiest routes from the airport.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

- CLT is the primary airport which serves the Charlotte metropolitan area.
- Charlotte Airport served around 58.81 million travelers in 2024, its highest annual passenger traffic.
- CLT is the main hub for American Airlines, offering non-stop flights to around 181 destinations via 26 carriers.
- The busiest routes from CLT are to Orlando and Cancún, Mexico.
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

- Located around 11.4 miles from Downtown Las Vegas, Harry Reid International Airport is the primary international airport serving the Las Vegas Valley.
- Currently, it has an annual passenger traffic of around 58.4 million.
- The airport serves around 171 destinations via 36 airlines and provides international flights to Europe and Asia. LAS is an operating base for Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, Spirit Airlines, and Frontier Airlines.
- The busiest routes from LAS are to Los Angeles and Toronto-Pearson, Canada.
Orlando International Airport (MCO)

- Located around 12 miles from downtown Orlando, MCO is the key airport serving the Orlando Metropolitan Area.
- The airport had annual passenger traffic of around 57.21 million in 2024, a small drop compared to the 2023 passenger traffic.
- This is the second-busiest airport in Florida and serves as a hub for Silver Airways. It offers non-stop services to more than 160 destinations.
- Like most Florida Airports, the airport offers great connectivity to the Bahamas, Central America, and the Caribbean. Atlanta and Toronto, Canada, are the busiest routes from the airport.
Miami International Airport (MIA)

- With an annual passenger traffic of around 55.92 million, Miami Airport is currently the tenth busiest airport in the US.
- More than 80 airlines fly from the airport to nearly 150 destinations globally.
- Serving as one of American Airlines’ biggest hubs, the airport offers many flights to the Caribbean and Latin America.
- Also, there are direct flights from MIA to destinations like Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. The busiest routes from MIA are to Atlanta and Mexico City.
All Your Questions Answered
What is the busiest airport in the US?
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the US, with an annual passenger traffic of 108 million.
What are the busiest airports in the US?
Currently, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), and Miami International Airport (MIA) are the top 10 busiest airports in the US.
Is O’Hare the busiest airport in the US?
No, but it ranks among the busiest in the country. With an annual passenger traffic of 80 million, ORD is currently the fourth busiest airport in the US. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the US.
What are the 5 busiest airports in the US?
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Denver International Airport (DEN), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
What is the #1 airport in the US?
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the country’s #1 airport by passenger traffic. In 2024, it had an annual passenger traffic of around 108 million, making it the world’s busiest airport.
What is the busiest international airport in the world?
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world’s busiest airport. Still, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the busiest airport for international travelers. ATL handles around 62 million seats.
Which US city has the busiest airport?
Atlanta, Georgia, has the busiest airport. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is around 10.2 miles from Downtown Atlanta.
Which airport has the most traffic in the US?
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has the most passenger traffic in the country, with 108 million passengers using its terminals annually.

Gerard Stevens is an experienced writer specializing in travel and car ownership in the U.S. With over five years in this field, he strives to simplify travel and driving for his readers. Gerard offers valuable guidance on various topics, including car and travel guides, helping his audience feel more confident in navigating these challenges.