“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space, at full speed, above all obstacles, on the infinite highway of the air.” – Wilbur Wright

Have you ever read the novel named “Airport” by Arthur Hailey published in 1968 ?

Have you ever watched the “Airport” film series ?

We know that Aviation is an enchanting and breathtaking sphere carrying the imagination of those great engineers and scientists. From Wright Brothers to the modern AI-Quantum computing world, aviation denotes remarkable achievement of the human mind. Inner engineering of aviation always inspires pilots, aviation enthusiasts and creative fliers to achieve their limitless value and goals. It encourages seeking new creation and achieving enlightenment. 

Everything has its smaller and bigger version. Airport does so. There are over 41,000 airports in this world. Some are bigger than many countries around.  Larger airports play an important role in the global aviation industry, serving as critical means of transportation hubs, connecting millions of passengers across the globe. While these airports offer numerous advantages in terms of capacity, connectivity, and economic impact, they also face challenges like congestion, environmental concerns, and operational complexities. However , the world’s smallest airport Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, located on Dutch Caribbean island of Saba, has the shortest commercial runway with just 400m. 

They are developed to meet the growing demands of air travel and to serve and handle a large volume of passengers and aircrafts. Top five biggest airports in term of area are mentioned below in detail : 

1.King Fahd International Airport

It is also known as Dammam International Airport. It is located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Eastern province. It was opened on 28 November, 1999. It has a land area of 776 square kilometers. It was designed to cater to the increasing air traffic in the region. 

This airport is named after King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. This airport promotes state-of-the-art facilities, including a royal terminal, cargo village, and a mosque that has capacity to hold over 2,000 worshippers. It has two parallel runways of 4,000 meters each. It is larger than the city of dreams- Mumbai and neighboring country Bahrain. 

It was the first airport in Saudi Arabia to adopt duty-free stores. Its parking complex can hold upto 4,930 cars. It has its own plant nursery containing gardens with different trees and plants. It consists of a control tower of 85.5m high. It has three passenger terminals: Terminal 1 for international flights, Terminal 2 for domestic flights, and a separate terminal for the arrival of pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah.

 In 2001, total passengers were 2,542,000 with 23,312 commercial aircraft movements whereas in 2016, total passengers were 9,690,000 with aircraft movement of 23,312. It takes only 45 minutes to reach Bahrain International Airport from this airport  making it one of the world’s shortest international flights. The Antonov An-225 Mriya landed here in 2009. 

Code	DMM
Airport Type	Public
Opened	28 Nov, 1999
Owner	General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)
Operator	Dammam Airports Company
Elevation	72 ft/22m
Aircraft movement	90,134  (2016 A.D)
Passengers	Above 9,690,000 (2016 A.D)
Cargo	138,870 tons

Notable accidents: 

A  Boeing 747-400F aircraft suffered a tail strike on take-off  from this airport on Feb 1 , 2020 which was destined for Zaragoza, Spain. 

2.Denver International Airport

It is the largest airport in North America. It has been open since 1995.  It is the second largest airport in the world in terms of land size with 135.7 square kilometers. It is located in Denver, Colorado, USA. It features six runways.

 It is one of the busiest airports in the United States. It is known for its iconic tent-like roof structure and innovative design representing stunning Rocky mountains. It also features the longest commercial runway in North America, spanning 4,877 meters. It serves as a major gateway to the United States and beyond. It has restaurants, stores, and art exhibits promoting arts, culture and technology. It is the largest operating base for Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines.

It has over 40,000 employees. The project ‘operation 2045’ aims to add four new concourses with 100 more gates east and west of the terminal by 2045 and serves over 125 million passengers annually. In 1995, total passengers were 31,067,498 whereas in 2023 , it was 77,837,917. 

Code	DEN
Airport Type	Public
Opened	28 Feb , 1995
Owner	City and county of Denver
Operator	City and county of Denver,  Department of Aviation
Elevation	5,434 ft / 1,656 m
Aircraft movement	662,010  (2023 A.D)
Passengers	77,837,917 (2023 A.D)
Cargo	340,767 tons

Notable accidents: 

1. 14 aircrafts suffered windshield failures within a 3.5 hour period where 26 windshields failed on these aircrafts, on 16 Feb, 2007. 
2. The Boeing 737-500 suddenly changed its direction off the left side of runway 34R and caught fire during take-off, where no fatalities with 38 injuries happened, on 20 Dec, 2008.
3. The ExpressJet Embraer ERJ-145 while landing on 34R hit approach lights and stopped on the runway, on 3 April, 2012. 
4. United Airlines Flight 328, a Boeing 777-200 flying from Denver to Honolulu, Hawaii, had engine damage after take-off and returned to Denver Int. Airport with no injuries, on 20 Feb, 2021.                                                                                                                                                      

3.Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport

It is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Texas, USA. It has been operating since 1974. It is the world’s busiest and third longest airport in the world. It has a land  area of 69.6 square kilometers. It features 5 terminals and 7 runways with 174 gates.

Travelers can have fun with a diverse range of dining options, shopping, and other basic services holding both business needs and leisure with branded 2 Hyatt hotels. In 2020, It was the third busiest airport in the world according to aircraft movement and fourth busiest as of passenger traffic. It is the largest hub for American Airlines.

It has service to 254 destinations (191 domestic + 63 international) from 28 passenger airlines and is the largest carbon neutral airport. By 2028, the $2.72 billion project aims to add nine more gates. It has a Department of Public Safety having its own police, fire protection, and emergency medical services. In 1994, total passengers were 52,642,225 and in 2023 it was 81,764,044. 

Code	DFW
Airport Type	Public
Opened	23 Sep , 1973
Owner	Cities of Dallas and Fort Worth
Operator	DFW Airport Board
Elevation	607 ft. / 185 m
Aircraft movement	689,569  (2023 A.D)
Passengers	81,764,044  (2023 A.D)
Cargo	774,033.8  tons

Notable accidents: 

1.  Lockheed L-1011 crashed near the north end of runway 17L on 2 Aug, 1985 which killed 8 of 11 crew members and 128 of 152 passengers on board including 1 on the ground.   
2. Metro flight convair CV-580 lost directional control during a crosswind takeoff with minor injuries on 24 March 1987. 
3. An American Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 overran runway after warning signals where 2 crew were seriously injured and remaining 12 crew and 240 passengers escaped safety, on 21 May, 1988.
4. Boeing 727 crashed after take-off leading to the death of 14 out of 108 people on board and injured 76 , on 31 August 1988. 
5. McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 lost directional control during a crosswind landing in rain on arrival where 2 passengers suffered serious injuries and rest of 187 passengers and 13 crew were safely rescued.  
6. Cessna 208B Caravan Cargo aircraft was blown off runway 17L by jet blast after arriving from Tulsa Int. Airport, on 1 oct, 1993.
7. American Airlines Fokker 100 collapsed while landing on runway 17C where there were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged badly.

4.Orlando International Airport

It is located in Orlando, Florida and has been operating since 1981. It has a land area of 53.8 square kilometers. Its old name was McCoy Air Force Base. It features 4 runways and serves millions of passengers each year with a wide range of facilities and services. 

It is well-known for its passenger-centric philosophy. It is the seventh busiest airport in the United States. It features Hyatt Regency hotel as well. 

Code	MCO
Airport Type	Public
Opened	1961
Owner	Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Operator	Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Elevation	96 ft / 29 m
Aircraft movement	405,925  (2023 A.D)
Passengers	57,735,726  (2023 A.D)
Cargo	212,480  tons

5.Washington Dulles International Airport

It is the fifth largest airport with a land area of 48.6 square kilometers. It was named after John Foster Dulles who was 52nd US secretary of state. It is situated in the Northern Virginia side of Washington DC, USA. 

It has been operating since 1962. A group of House Republicans has introduced legislation to rename Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia after former 45th president Donald Trump.  Construction of a 100 MW solar power facility, battery and bus charging equipment has been started in 2023 where solar panels would cover more than 835 acres on land. It was famous as a filming location in the early years of 1960s and 1970s.

Code	IAD
Airport Type	Public
Opened	17 Nov, 1962
Owner	United States Federal Government
Operator	Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Elevation	313 ft / 95 m
Aircraft movement	251,823  (2023 A.D)
Passengers	25,135,288  (2023 A.D)
Cargo	213,162  tons

Notable Accidents: 

1. TWA Flight 514 crashed on the slope of Mount Weather killing all 85 passengers and 7 crew members, on 1 Dec, 1974.
2. A Fairways Corp. de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed after take-off and killed a sole occupant and the pilot, on 20 July, 1988. 
3. A Learjet 25 operated by Mexican carrier TAESA crashed into trees , killing 12 people who were planning to attend 1994 FIFA World Cup Football, on 18 June , 1994. 
4. American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon by al-Qaeda terrorists, on 11 Sep, 2001. 
5. Southern Airways Express Flight 246 had an emergency landing on Loudoun County Parkway where all 7 people survived, on 19 Jan, 2024. 

Some problems due to larger airports:

They face several environmental challenges due to their significant operational footprint and impact on surrounding ecosystems.  Expanding larger airports often requires land development which can lead to habitat destruction, fragmentation of ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity. Airports generate substantial amounts of waste from passenger services, catering and construction projects. They are energy consuming. The continuous operation of aircrafts at larger airports produce noise pollution in nearby communities and also impact wildlife habitats. 

To solve these problems, collaboration among airport operators, regulators, local people, environmental organizations and government must be done. They should implement sustainable practices, invest in green technologies and monitor environmental impacts to minimize their environmental footprint. 

However, larger airports play an important role in the global aviation industry to connect millions of passengers and tons of cargo. These airports offer various advantages in terms of connectivity, economic impact, capacity, modern facilities and services, cargo operations, etc. 

Why are Larger airports built ?

They are built to increase passenger traffic and to accommodate the rising number of passengers passing through their terminals. They can efficiently handle large volumes of travelers by reducing congestion and delays. They often serve as major hubs for airlines and handle a diverse aircrafts. They serve as major hubs for air cargo operations and promote global mobility and cultural exchange. They help to create jobs, attracting investment in surrounding areas.  

Hence, larger airports are built and expanded to meet the increasing demands of air travel, support airline operations, facilitate international connectivity and drive economic development. They play an important role in shaping  and modeling the future of aviation and serving as key gateways to the world.