When we talk about air travel on a global scale, metrics like passenger numbers, number of flights, or connectivity often take center stage. But another metric, which is less-celebrated but often more spectacular, measures an airport’s significance by its physical size. The sheer land area of an airport influences everything from runway capacity to future expansion potential, cargo handling, and even landscape planning. In our article, we explore the world’s ten largest airports in operation by land area — a list that underscores how vast and forward-looking some aviation hubs really are.

More precisely, this ranking is based on total land area (in square kilometers). The airports span deserts, plains, or coastal zones, sometimes covering hundreds of km², and many feel more like small cities than just airports. As you read through the list, you’ll learn not only about the size, but also how they function, which airlines use them, and what makes each airport unique. Our list is based on the World Atlas data and was checked on the official websites of each airport.

10

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

15.4 sq miles / 40.0 km²

Shanghai Pudong International Airport, located about 40 km east of downtown Shanghai in the Pudong district, is one of China’s primary gateways and a key global aviation hub.

Opened in the 1990s to relieve pressure on Shanghai’s older airport, Pudong (PVG) has grown into a major international gateway. This airport handles passenger, cargo, and transit flights all across Asia, Europe, North America, and beyond. Airlines like China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, and many international carriers operate out of PVG.

Its ranking as the 10th-largest airport globally by land area stems from its 40.0 km² footprint. It is a sizable area that supports multiple terminals, long runways, and cargo zones.

Given Shanghai’s immense population and status as a financial and commercial engine, PVG plays a critical role in connecting China to the rest of the world and serves as an ever-expanding hub for commerce, tourism, and transit.

9

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

17.2 sq miles / 44.5 km²

Serving Houston, one of the largest cities and business hubs in the southern United States, Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) covers 44.5 km², making it the 9th-largest airport globally by area.

IAH handles a broad mix of domestic and international flights, connecting Houston with Latin America, Europe, Asia, basically, with all continents, hence the name, intercontinental airport. It serves as a key hub for both passenger and cargo flights, thanks to Houston’s significance in industries such as energy, space, healthcare, and trade. Its large area supports multiple terminals, runways, and cargo facilities.

The 44.5 km² area gives IAH the space to handle high traffic volume, cargo throughput, and the logistics diversity required by Houston’s diversified economy, which all help explain its position near the top of this “land area” ranking.

8

Orlando International Airport

18.0 sq miles / 46.9 km²

Located in central Florida, Orlando International Airport (MCO) spans roughly 46.9 km² and is ranked 8th in the world by land area. This airport is the gateway to Sunshine State magic!

Originally built on the site of a former military airfield, MCO today serves as the major aviation gateway to Florida’s central region, especially popular among leisure travelers visiting theme parks such as Disneyland, beaches, Kennedy Space Center, and other tourist destinations. The airport supports domestic flights across the US as well as international services to Europe, Latin America, Canada, and the Middle East, operated by carriers including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and more.

The expansive 46.9 km² footprint allows MCO to operate multiple terminals, accommodate large aircraft, provide parking, and maintain ground transportation infrastructure vital for handling surges in holiday travel and ongoing international traffic.

MCO’s significant land area reflects its dual identity: both a functional international airport and a critical piece of Florida’s tourism industry.

7

Beijing Daxing International Airport

18.1 sq miles / 47.0 km²

Another airport in China made it to our list. Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) sits about 46 km south of central Beijing and occupies about 47.0 km², ranking it 7th globally in size.

Opened in September 2019, Daxing is among the newest mega-airports in the world. Its terminal, designed by renowned architects, is shaped like a starfish on a map, enabling passengers to walk to any gate from the center in under 10 minutes.

Today, Daxing serves as a major hub for select carriers and alliances, handling both domestic and growing international traffic. The 47 km² land parcel allowed planners to build a vast runway network, a massive terminal, and space for future expansion. For a megacity like Beijing, which is one of the world’s busiest in aviation demand, Daxing acts as a bold long-term bet. Its modern design, high capacity, and long-term infrastructure position it as a key node in China’s aviation future.

6

Washington Dulles International Airport

18.4 sq miles / 47.8 km²

Located just slightly west of the US capital, Washington, D.C., Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) covers roughly 47.8 km², ranking 6th among the world’s largest airports by area.

Since its opening in 1962, Dulles has served as a central international hub for the US capital, supporting diplomatic travel, transatlantic flights, and global connections. It is a hub for United Airlines and carries a significant share of international flights in the Washington-Baltimore region.

With its expansive 47.8 km² footprint, IAD maintains several runways and cargo facilities and can handle large volumes of international passengers. The size offers resilience, flexibility for expansion, and buffer zones. The airport was planned at a time when aviation demand was expected to grow exponentially, as evidenced by its architecture and ergonomics.

5

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

27.0 sq miles / 69.7 km²

When you thought that Houston was a big airport, you’ll be surprised to find another Texan airport on our list, which is much bigger! We are talking about Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport(DFW). Positioned between Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW spans an impressive 69.7 km², making it the 5th-largest airport globally by land area and the 2nd-largest in the US.

Since its first commercial flight in 1974, DFW has evolved into a major hub for domestic and international travel with its five terminals and nearly 200 gates supporting dozens of airlines, cargo traffic, and freight operations. The airport launched with major airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Frontier Airlines.

Its vast 69.7 km² area enables multiple runways, terminals, cargo hubs, and logistics zones, basically functioning like a small city. In the busy, economically dynamic Texas corridor, DFW’s size supports heavy passenger traffic, freight, and complex scheduling.

4

Istanbul Airport

29.5 sq miles / 76.5 km²

This is where Europe and Asia meet! Istanbul Airport (IST) — sprawls across roughly 76.5 km², giving it the 4th largest footprint among active airports worldwide.

IST is a vital air bridge between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. This airport handles immense traffic volumes, with dozens of carriers using it as a transit hub. Istanbul’s geographic position, straddling two continents, makes this airport uniquely strategic for long-haul, regional, and intercontinental flights.

The 76.5 km² land area allows IST to maintain multiple runways, a large terminal, ample apron space, and room for cargo and future expansion, all of which are necessary to support Istanbul’s dynamic role in global aviation. It is also one of the busiest airports in the world, and the 2nd busiest in Europe after London Heathrow.

This airport is also a hub for Turkish Airlines – the airline with the most destinations served globally, also thanks to the strategic position of IST.

3

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

38.6 sq miles / 100 km²

Serving the Malaysian capital region from the Sepang district in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), or simply KLIA, covers around 100 km², enough to earn it 3rd place in the world by land area.

KLIA is the central hub for both legacy and low-cost carriers, including Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, as well as a host of international airlines. The airport supports three runways, cargo operations, and a mix of domestic and global flights connecting Southeast Asia with Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and the Indo-Pacific Islands. Thanks to its large size and good organization, this airport also earned the title of the world’s largest low-cost hub!

The 100 km² footprint enables KLIA to serve as a long-term aviation gateway by providing space for expansion, cargo logistics, and the capacity to grow with rising demand from Malaysia and the region.

2

Denver International Airport

53.2 sq miles / 137.8 km²

Denver International Airport (DEN) occupies a vast area of 137.8 km². It makes it the largest airport in the United States and the second-largest globally by land area.

Opened in 1995 to replace the older Stapleton Airport, DEN features a now-iconic white tensile roof at Jeppesen Terminal, designed to evoke the snow-capped peaks of the nearby Rocky Mountains. The airport features six runways, including the longest public-use runway in North America. DEN serves over 215 nonstop destinations worldwide and is a major hub for United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Frontier Airlines.

The airport’s vast footprint provides room for runways, terminals, maintenance, cargo, and future growth. It is necessary at high altitude, where longer runways help compensate for the thinner air. All of this makes DEN a benchmark of scale and ambition among modern airports.

1

Dammam King Fahd International Airport

300 sq miles / 776 km²

Our winner is like a huge castle in the desert! Far to the east of Saudi Arabia lies King Fahd International Airport (DMM), covering an astonishing 776 km². This makes it the largest airport in the world by land area, vastly exceeding all others on this list.

Opened in 1999 and named after the former king, the airport is located some 31 kilometers northwest of Dammam. Its size is so large that it has been compared to the footprint of entire cities, and amazingly, this airport is as big as the whole neighboring country of Bahrain! Much of the area remains reserved for future development, but the airport already features multiple terminals (a passenger terminal, a dedicated corporate terminal, and even a royal terminal), cargo zones, and extensive infrastructure.

Despite its enormous size, current passenger traffic is modest compared with the very busiest global airports. But the oversized footprint reflects a long-term strategic vision. The vast area provides buffer zones, room for expansion, and the potential for a full-fledged aviation city if needed: runways, terminals, maintenance, cargo, even residential and support zones.