Endless escalators, hallways, runways await you at these world's biggest airports!
Bindu swetha
While getting across these airports can be tiresome, it is also a delight to watch these huge manmade marvels!
*The airports mentioned in the story are listed on the basis of their airport size in square kilometers, in descending order.
Beijing Daxing International Airport (China)
The latest addition to the list, the Beijing airport was grandly inaugurated in September 2019, with the largest terminal building spanning an area of 7.5 million sq ft!
With a unique starfish-shaped design, passengers don't have to waste time in crossing the entire airport that has 82 departure gates, to reach their terminus. It takes only 8 minutes to reach from the security to the designated gate!
Facial recognition scanners are everywhere at the airport - from getting through the customs to shopping at the custom-free store! This provides higher security access at the airport.
From radio frequency identification devices to effectively track baggage to inquiry robots that can instantly cater to a traveler's problems. The airport looks straight from a sci-fi movie!
The solar panels, water management systems and waste heat recovery systems, ensure the environmental-friendliness of the airport.
King Fahd International Airport (Saudi Arabia)
Spanning over an area of 780 sq kms with a terminal area of 3.52 million sq ft, this airport opened in 1999 and held the top spot until the Beijing airport opened in 2019!
It was the first among Saudi Arabia's airports to start duty-free stores in the airport complex.
There's a Mosque inside the airport complex that can accommodate about 2000+ worshippers alongside a 250 room Hilton hotel.
The Royal Terminal of the airport is reserved for the Saudi Royal family, their guests and government personnel.
The 3 major Saudi airlines - Saudia, Aramco Aviation and Saudi Gulf Airlines have their base at this airport with a capacity to handle about 12 million passengers per year.
Due to the uniqueness of the airport's location, it hosts the shortest international flight route to Bahrain in the entire Kingdom as well as the longest domestic route from Dammam and Tabuk!
Denver International Airport (USA)
The largest airport in North America with respect to area and the fifth busiest airport in the US, this airport spans over 52.4 sq miles, with about 23 different airlines operating out of here!
The United Airlines and Frontier airlines have their base at the Denver Airport, apart from being the main operating base of Southwest Airlines. It was opened in 1995 and is currently the largest employer in the state of Colorado, serving about 215 destinations, globally!
The two gargoyle structures at the airport baggage claim area are the weirdest things that one will find at an airport! But as per Notre Denver, the structures are protectors of the travelers and ensure the safe arrival of their baggage!
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (USA)
The largest hub for American Airlines, the Dallas Airport is the primary international airport serving the Dallas-Fort metroplex area.
With an area of 27 square miles, the airport is also the fourth busiest airport in the world! The airport services flights to about 260 destinations.
Home to the world's largest parking lot, area-wise the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport is larger than the entire Manhattan Island!
Orlando International Airport (USA)
With Disney fans being the major users of the airport, the airport handled about 50 million passengers in 2019 alone, making it the busiest airport in Florida!
A special motor coach transportation is operated by Mears Transportation that serves all Disney guests with resort accommodations! This Disney Magical Express provides checked baggage pickup and delivery for Disney guests to all the 24 Walt Disney resorts.
A base hub to Silver Airways, this 11,609 acres large airport serves about 135 destinations across the globe. It is also the maintenance base for United Airlines, an operating base for JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines.
Washington Dulles International Airport (USA)
Spanning over an area of 12,000 acres, this airport that is named after the 52nd Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, serves about 125 destinations globally!
A base hub for United Airlines, the airport can currently handle 45 million annual passengers, with a future expansion plan to accommodate 70 million passengers annually!
The airport has about 19 mobile lounges and about 30 'plane mates' that can be directly attached to the planes, ensuring traveler's protection against weather!
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (USA)
Another American airport in the list, this airport serves the people of Houston with about 45 million passengers using the airport services in 2019!
Built in an area of 10,000 acres, the airport serves as a home to United Airlines. It serves flights to 185 destinations across the globe through the 27 passenger airlines flying from the airport.
The flag posts of the G7 countries along with the European Union countries at the airport entrance, known as 'Light Spikes' is a unique, photoworthy spot at the airport!
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (China)
Located in Pudong, this airport is spread over 10,000 acres of land and is the busiest international gateway of China!
Home to Air China, Spring Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines, the airport was visited by 76 million passengers in 2019!
If you want to experience the best of technology, then you must take the Shanghai Maglev Train, which is the world's first commercially run maglev train! The train operator from the airport to downtown, Longyang Road stop, in just 8 minutes!
Cairo International Airport (Egypt)
Located in Heliopolis, Cairo airport is the busiest airport in the whole of Egypt! Home to Egypt Air and Nile Air, this airport had recorded about 15 million passengers in 2017.
Built in the 1940s to serve as a base to the American Bayn Field, it was only in 1945 that the Civil Aviation Authority took control of the airport and it has been operating domestic and international flights since then!
Named after the Sanskrit word 'land of gold', this airport, located in Bangkok, spread over an area of 8000 acres, is one of the biggest airports in Southeast Asia.
Serving as a hub to Bangkok Airways, Thai Vietjet Air, Thai Smile, Thai Airways, and Jet Asia Airways, the airport handled about 63 million passengers in 2018.
The beautiful sculpture of the scene that depicts a scene from Samudra Manthan at the airport, is one of the reasons why the airport was declared as the world's most popular Instagrammable spot!