The World’s 10 Largest Airport – by Surface Area

If you’re planning to visit the Middle East, you better get yourself prepared to see the big airports. The Middle East is home to some of the most significant airports in the world, even the largest one. The King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia is the largest airports on the planet with an area that measures 78,000 hectares.

Tenth

Beijing Capital International Airport - China (IATA Code – PEK)

Commissioned on 2nd March 1958 comprising of a small terminal building. Expansion was carried out in phase to phase manner and currently is the world’s second busiest airport in passenger traffic and is ranked 6th in the world for aircraft movement. Beijing Capital International Airport got its IATA code is PEK based on its former Romanized name Peking.

"The airport has a land area of 23.3 Sq. Km, which is equivalent to 5757.5 acres."

Ninth

Cairo International Airport - Egypt (IATA Code – CAI)

The location was used by the US air force during World War II, when the American left after the war, it was take over by the Egyptian Department to Civil Aviation and commissioned it for traffic movement in the year 1968. Cairo international Airport gas a total of four terminals.

"The airport has a land area of 25.5 Sq. Km, which is 6301.1 acres."

Eighth

O’ Hare International Airport – Chicago, United States of America (IATA Code – ORD)

The airport was initially used by the US air force during WW-II. Commissioned for passenger traffic in 1958. O’ Hare International Airport is the site for the first ever aero-bridge. The airport has a total of 8 runways. 4 each on either side of the terminal building. The airport has 4 passenger terminal and 1 huge cargo terminal.

"The airport’s land area is 26.1 Sq. Km, accounting to 6449.45 acres."

Seventh

Suvarnabhumi Airport – Bangkok, Thailand (IATA Code – BKK)

The name is derived out of Sanskrit which means ‘Land of Gold’, is the biggest airport in Southeast Asia (Land Area), Suvarnabhumi airport is the 20thbusiest airport in the world and is the Hub of the countries national carrier, Thai Airways. During the course of the airport construction there were intermittent delays due to political and economic instability. The people of the country boast about the unique design of the terminal. Suvarnabhumi Airport is the most “instagrammed” places in the world.

"The Airport comprises a total land area of 29.8 Sq. Km, which is 7363.7 acres."

Sixth

Adolfo Suarez Madrid – Barajas Airport – Madrid, Spain (IATA code: MAD)

The airport opened in 1928 and has grown into one of Europe’s most important aviation center. The airport is the second largest in Europe by physical size. The fact is the airport’s Terminal 4 is the largest airport terminal in the world by size with an area of 760,000 Sq. Meter.

"The land area is 30.5 Sq. Km, 7636.7 acres."

Fifth

Charles de Gaulle Airport – Paris, France (IATA Code – CDG)

Also known as Roissy Airport is the second busiest airport in Europe. The airport is the 10thbusiest airport in the world and is the principle HUB for Air France. The airport is named after the president of France from 1959 to 1969.

"The Land Area is 32 Sq. Km, equivalent to 7907.37 Acres."

Fourth

Pudong International Airport – Shanghai, China (IATA Code – PVG).

The airport is 9thbusiest in the world with regards to passenger traffic and 3rdbusiest in world with regards to cargo movement. Pudong is one to the 2 airport in Shanghai and Pudong serves mostly international flights. It is the second busiest airport in China after Beijing Capital International Airport. Pudong a 2 terminal and passengers will have to take a shuttle bus ride to reach from one terminal to the other terminal.

"Pudong International Airport has a land area of 33.5 Sq. Km, which is 8278.03 Acres."

Third

Fort Worth International Airport – Dallas, United States of America (IATA Code – DFW)

The airport is in the state of Texas, USA. Fort Worth Airport is the 3rdlargest airport in surface area and the 2ndlargest in the United States. It is the fourth busiest airport in the world in terms of aircraft movement and when it comes to passenger traffic, it is the eleventh busiest. The airport has 165 passenger boarding gates spread over 5 terminals. The airport is so unique that the airport has its own police force, fire protection and emergency medical services.

"The total surface area is 78 Sq. Km, which add up to 19274.2 acres."

Second

Denver International Airport – Denver, United States of America (IATA Code – DEN)

The airport has non-stop connecting to over 215 destinations, the airport is the largest employer in the state of Colorado. By passenger handling Denver International Airport is the 20thbusiest in the world and the 5thbusiest in the United States. It was voted the best airport in the world by SKYTRAX in 2018. The airport is completely run by solar power and it also provides free Wi-Fi to passengers and is considered the fastest in the United States.

"Denver Airport has a land area of 137.26 Sq. Km, 33917.6 acres."

First

King Fahd International Airport – Dammam, Saudi Arabia (IATA Code – DMM)

A whooping surface area, in fact the surface area of King Fahd International Airport is greater that it neighboring country Bahrain. It was named after Fahd bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, the king of Saudi Arabia from 1982 until his death in 2005. The airport was opened for commercial operation on 28 November 1999 and handling 27 leading airline. In spite of its massive land area, the actual airport only utilizes five percent of the total surface area. The airport has a separate terminal with luxurious furniture and decorative and the terminal is used by Saudi Royal Family, Government officials and official guests. Although the biggest, King Fahd International Airport handles under 9 million passengers a year.

"The surface area comprises of 780 Sq. km, which is a massive 1, 92, 742 Acres."

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Prepared by

Sunil Fasih

Faculty

Kairos Institute, Thodupuzha