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The 10 largest airports in the world
Do you know which are the largest airports in the world and why they attract so much attention? These aviation giants welcome millions of passengers every year, move tonnes of cargo, and serve as important connection hubs between countries and continents.
If you love to travel, check out the list below of the 10 largest airports in the world, their key differentiators, and what makes them true global benchmarks.
What is the largest airport in the world?
The largest airport in the world is King Fahd International Airport, according to the AirHelp ranking in 20251. Located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, it covers an area of more than 780 square kilometres, even exceeding the territory of neighbouring Bahrain. It’s no surprise the airport features in Guinness World Records².
Opened in 1999, the airport was designed to be a strategic hub in the Middle East and currently has two parallel runways of 4,000 metres, 49 aircraft stands and two helipads.
What makes King Fahd International Airport the largest in the world? What is its operational capacity?
The title of largest airport in the world isn’t limited to its physical footprint, although King Fahd International Airport is impressive with more than 780 square kilometres of area. Infrastructure and spaces dedicated to retail, leisure, and dining are also taken into account.
Even without being among the busiest by passenger numbers, it was designed to handle high flows of people and cargo with efficiency, safety, and organisation.
To compile the ranking, AirHelp considers criteria that assess both infrastructure and operational capacity, the efficiency, and the impact of these centres on global aviation. Beyond size, the main pillars used are:
- Passenger and cargo traffic: airports that welcome millions of passengers annually and operate with high cargo volumes;
- Infrastructure and terminals: wide runways, modern terminals, and services such as shops, restaurants, and rest areas. Airports that invest in sustainability, accessibility, and technology are also valued;
- International connectivity: airports with direct routes to multiple continents, many airlines, and integration with other modes of transport.
In other words, the ranking of the 10 largest airports in the world was created based on a set of indicators that combine operational volume, structural quality, and global impact. This ensures a comprehensive assessment that goes far beyond just measuring the size of the built area.
Top 10 largest airports in the world
Beyond impressing with their size, these airports say a lot about the scale and importance of their regions. From vast terminals in the desert to ultra high‑tech hubs in Asia, each one is a world of its own.
See below the 10 largest airports in the world in 2025, according to AirHelp, with their respective locations and official currencies.
| Airport | Country | Official currency |
|---|---|---|
| King Fahd International Airport (DMM) | Saudi Arabia | Saudi riyal (SAR) |
| Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) | China | Chinese yuan (CNY) |
| Denver International Airport (DEN) | United States | US dollar (USD) |
| Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | United States | US dollar (USD) |
| Orlando International Airport (MCO) | United States | US dollar (USD) |
| Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) | United States | US dollar (USD) |
| George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) | United States | US dollar (USD) |
| Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) | China | Chinese yuan (CNY) |
| Cairo International Airport (CAI) | Egypt | Egyptian pound (EGP) |
| Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) | Thailand | Thai baht (THB) |
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Sources consulted:
- AirHelp ranking
- Guinness World Records
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Sources last checked on 11 August 2025
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