A hundred years ago, few people could imagine that air transport would be the most popular in the world. Most passengers today prefer to use the services of trusted companies that send their ships to the largest airports on the planet. Sometimes flying is the only way to reach another country or difficult to reach area. Modern air terminals sometimes resemble an anthill teeming with people, in which millions of people converge and disperse in different directions, which ultimately determines the total passenger flow in each of the heavenly harbors. Among the huge halls and terminals, you can get lost, find your love or meet an old friend, but for everyone who flies long distances, the comfort of the airport terminal, the opportunity to relax, eat and contact loved ones is important. We offer you the top of the largest airports in the world, the rating of which we will present in ascending order.

Dallas International Airport, USA

Passenger traffic per year - 65.5 million people. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is the largest in Texas, the second name is Fort Worth. The location of the airport terminal in Dallas is very arbitrary, since the facility is actually located between two cities. There are seven runways, all of them are concrete and have a length from 48 to 4085 meters. The air gate accepts 135 domestic and 40 international flights. Interesting fact: For a long time, Fort Worth and Dallas could not come to an agreement on the location of the airport, since each locality had its own hubs, which they wanted to develop independently. In 1969, by order of the federal authorities, it was decided to begin construction of an air terminal that would be equidistant from both cities. The first passengers crossed the threshold of the sky pier in 1974, and an amount of 700 million USD was spent on the construction of infrastructure. Despite the fact that the airport's profile is cargo transportation, passenger traffic here has the greatest advantage.

Charles de Gaulle International Airport, France

The volume of annual passenger traffic is 65.8 million people. Aéroport de Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle is considered the most convenient transfer hub in Europe. A railway station was built on the territory of the air gate, from which trains run to anywhere in the country. The airport was named in honor of the founder of the Fifth Republic, the legendary French leader Charles de Gaulle. The location of the airport is 25 km from the capital of France, the territory of the point covers several communes. The building has three terminals, the first and second were initially designed to receive domestic flights, however, sometimes they also receive passengers from international ships. The third check-in area is reserved for those flying on charters or low-cost airlines. Since the area where the airport is built is very grassy, ​​you can often see hares and rabbits from the windows, which are periodically shot to prevent the mammal population from growing too large.

Hong Kong International Airport, China

Annual passenger traffic is 68 million people, distance from the city is 34 km. The unofficial name is Chek Lap Kok Airport; the airport received such an unusual name by analogy with the artificial island of the same name, on which the air gate was erected in 1998. The total cost of construction work is 20 billion USD. According to some ratings, Hong Kong International Airport is considered the most comfortable on the planet, and the terminals are laid out in such a way as to make passengers as comfortable as possible. Those arriving here for the first time are struck by the abundance of signs, following which it will not be difficult to get to any terminal, store or lounge. Inside the huge building there are three shuttle stations, thanks to which you can move in any direction quickly and easily. In a matter of minutes you can get from the departure area to the check-in hall and back, since the shuttle speed is more than 60 km/h. What is especially nice for passengers is that traveling on the “ship” is completely free.

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Los Angeles International Airport, USA

Passenger traffic - 74 million people. in year. The civilian “Los Angeles International Airport” is located in the state of California, 27 km from the “City of Angels”. The airport received its unofficial name - "horseshoes" - because its terminals are located in the shape of the letter "U". Comfortable shuttles transport passengers to the check-in point. The four runways are made of concrete and have a length of 2,720 m to 3,685 m. Los Angeles Airport is a hub for United Airlines; daily dispatchers receive ships from all parts of the planet: Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania.

Heathrow Airport, England

Annual passenger traffic is 75 million people. London Heathrow Airport is the busiest air hub in Europe, located in the west of London, and its runways are located in such a way that planes take off and land directly over London. Another feature of the air gate is its low location above sea level (only 25 meters) and constant fog, due to which the runways are sometimes difficult to see. Heathrow works with 90 airlines, covering 170 destinations around the world. Travelers arriving here note the development of the infrastructure: the building is equipped with rest rooms, there are even places for prayer, where you can retire or talk with a clergyman of any denomination. For the convenience of passengers, there are beauty salons, restaurants, saunas, and countless shops. You can get to London by high-speed express in just 15-20 minutes.

Haneda International Airport, Japan

Passenger traffic - 75.3 million people. The air hub is considered the second in Asia after the air gate located in the capital of China. Initially, the Tokyo International Airport project was created on the basis that flights would be received exclusively within the country, but today international airlines are becoming welcome guests on local runways, of which there are four. The airport building is divided into three levels and resembles a space object. The first floor looks ordinary, the second is built in the form of a round tower, the frame of which is made of metal, and the walls are made of glass of an unusual color, and the structure is crowned with a flat disk. There are three terminals in total; additional lifts are equipped for people with disabilities and special chairs are installed near each check-in point.

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O'Hare Airport, Chicago, USA

Annual passenger traffic is 76 million people. "O" Hare International Airport is classified as a civilian airport and is located 7 km from the city of Chicago, Illinois, and is a hub for United Airlines. Seven runways made of asphalt and asphalt in combination with concrete have a length of 2268 m to 3962 meters. Period The construction of the air hub took place during the Second World War - 1942/43. Initially, it was planned to locate the Douglas airline plant here, later Air Force warehouses were located here, where many experimental aircraft were presented. Despite the fact that Douglas eventually moved, the city authorities decided to give The airport received a second life. O'Hare received its first commercial flights in the middle of the last century, and the peak load came in 1994, when up to 1,000 aircraft landed and took off here every day.

Dubai International Airport, UAE

Passenger traffic - 78 million. The only eastern air hub that is included in the top 10 largest airports in the world and is the largest civilian airport in the UAE. The Sky Pier is located just four kilometers from central Dubai and is capable of receiving and sending more than 20 million tons of cargo annually. The year of opening was 1960, the construction of infrastructure cost the state 5.5 billion USD, and in 2001 a decision was made to increase the number of terminals, both cargo and passenger. Additionally, repair shops, exhibition centers, and transportation services are located on the airport territory. In less than six years, Dubai Airport moved from 15th place to third in terms of the number of people transported. The air gate is the hub for the national airline Emirates Airline. There are only two runways - 4 km and 4.5 km, both asphalt. The busiest route is the one to Bahrain.

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Beijing Capital International Airport, China

Annual passenger traffic - 90 million people. Location from the center of Beijing - 20 km, the second name of the airport is Capital City, opening hours - 24 hours a day. The airport is the hub for China's largest air company, Air China. The opening of the air gates took place in 1958, while the entire infrastructure included only a small building where the terminals were located. In 1980, the airport terminal was expanded; the next modernization took place in 1999, since the previous area was not enough for the ever-increasing passenger traffic. In 2007, another runway was opened and today there are three of them, ranging from 3.2 km to 4.55 km in length, all routes are asphalt. Every day the airport receives at least 1,100 flights from all over the world. Since Capital is connected to the metro line, getting here from Beijing is easy, and if you wish, a comfortable bus will take you to the nearest station.

Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Atlanta, USA

Annual passenger traffic is 101.5 million people, the area is 5.8 million square feet, the number of employees is 55 thousand. The air hub is located 11 km from Atlanta, and this air gate is the largest in the world, despite the fact that most flights are domestic. This situation is explained by the fact that getting from one US city to another is often cheaper and faster by air. The airlines offer flights to 260 destinations, including 54 countries and 83 cities. The uniqueness of the airport is that three planes can land on its runway at the same time. In total, the airport has five concrete runways and one helipad. The transportation hub is a hub for Delta AirTrain. The air giant began its development in 1925, when it was decided to create a new airport at an abandoned airfield. The first passengers took off on the flight within three years, and before that, planes took off and landed exclusively with cargo and mail. In the near future, it is planned to increase passenger traffic to 120 million, then, according to many experts, the question is which largest airport in the world will be closed for at least the next decade.

Many states are separated by thousands of kilometers and vast expanses of water. If it were not for airplanes, people would hardly travel to different places so often. This is why advanced countries spend a lot of resources on the development and improvement of airports - this is important for the prestige of the nation, the safety of citizens and tourism. The largest airports in the world in terms of passenger turnover welcome several tens of millions of people a year and amaze tourists with their size.

1. Hong Kong Airport

The second name, Chek Lap Kok, is borrowed from the lake of the same name, on which the air harbor is located. It is often called the most beautiful airport in the world. It is designed in such a way that any tourist can understand it and feel comfortable.

Despite the vast area, there are only three terminals, and there is plenty of signage and information kiosks throughout for passenger convenience. An express train departs regularly from the terminal to the city. A distinctive feature of the airport is its roof in the form of large waves. Another highlight of one of the terminals is the SkyPlaza shopping center with shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.

2. Dallas/Fort Worth Airport

Dallas Airport is the largest in Texas and the second largest in America. It serves more than 130 domestic flights and about 30 international destinations. Known for its punctuality, which is not surprising since it ranks third in the world in the number of takeoffs and landings per year, so every plane must take to the skies without delay.

There are five terminals on the territory of the air harbor, four are located in the shape of a semicircle and only one is in the shape of the letter U. You can get from one terminal to another by high-speed train. The abbreviated name of the airport is DFW. Interestingly, it has its own postal service, and on the map it is indicated as a separate settlement.

3. Suwannaphum Airport

Bangkok International Airport - Suwannaphum, or Suvarnabhumi, is the largest in Thailand and ranks first in Southeast Asia. Its opening took place in 2006, but despite its young age, it is in no way inferior in functionality and size to other air hubs.

The airport is a huge four-story building - on the ground floor there is a regular Aeroexpress train to the city, on the first floor buses stop, there is a cafe and a first-aid post, on the second floor there is an arrivals and control area, the third floor contains many cafes with delicious food, and on the fourth floor there is a zone departure. It is worth noting that in Bangkok air harbor there is no division between domestic and international flights, so there is only one terminal.

4. Charles de Gaulle Airport

It’s easy to guess from the name that this air hub is located in Paris. The annual passenger flow is more than 60 million people. There are three terminals, one for international and two for domestic flights. Two railways pass through the air harbor, so getting to any French city is not difficult. An interesting feature of the airport is its location on a “green” area, into which curious hares sometimes run.

5. Dubai Airport

This is one of the largest airports in the Middle East and the main air hub of the UAE. In terms of passenger traffic, it occupies a leading position in the world - in 2015 it received more than 78 million people. It has three terminals for serving passengers on domestic, commercial and international flights, one cargo terminal and a terminal for VIPs. There is also a separate terminal for national carrier Emirates.

Dubai Airport is known for a huge number of services - duty-free, flower shops, restaurants, business centers, lotteries, rest and relaxation rooms, a modern five-star hotel and a meeting service.

6. Los Angeles Airport

Located near the city of Los Angeles in California. Serves more than 60 million travelers per year. It is a major connecting point for many airlines. There are four takeoff and landing lanes and nine terminals, which are arranged in a horseshoe shape and are connected by buses.

From this airport you can get to anywhere in the world, and it is easy to get to the city by transport. An interesting feature is that the territory often serves as a platform for films and various filming.

7. Tokyo Airport

Haneda, or Tokyo Airport, occupies a leading position in terms of passenger traffic in Asia. Initially it was created for domestic flights, but now it actively accepts international destinations. The airport has three levels of floors - the second is built in the form of a rounded glass tower, and the third from above resembles a wide-brimmed hat. There is also parking for private jets and a VIP terminal.

8. Heathrow Airport

The largest airport in Europe is located near London; it was created on the basis of a military airfield in the 1950s. Passenger flow is more than 70 million people per year.

It has one cargo terminal and five terminals for receiving tourists, one of which was opened by order of Queen Elizabeth II. According to reviews from travelers, the airport is striking in its scale, but thanks to the huge number of signs you can easily find the right path. There are many bars and lounges to suit people of different financial means. A special feature of the airport is frequent fog and rain.

9. Capital Airport

Beijing Airport, or Capital Airport, is China's largest air port. It has three terminals with free shuttles, three runways and a large shopping area. Passenger flow is 85-90 million people per year. In the first terminal there is an exit to the metro, where you can get to the city.

The airport administration takes special care to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers. The grounds are decorated with lots of flowers and mini trees, and the restaurants feature dishes from all over the world.

10. Atlanta Airport

The largest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, is located in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, US. Serves more than 95 million passengers per year. Most flights are domestic, and the airport is a major hub for many international destinations and provides transportation to more than 50 countries. The opening of the air port took place in 1926.

The airport is distinguished by the fact that three aircraft can land on its territory simultaneously, with a total of six landing strips. There are two terminals and many halls, which are connected by its own metro line.

Today we cannot imagine our life without aviation. The first passenger flights took place in 1908, and the first scheduled airline was created in 1914. Over the past hundred years, the entire planet has been surrounded by a network of airlines, and by the beginning of the 21st century there are already about 44,000 airports on the globe. In large cities these are huge air hub complexes. The main characteristics of any of them are: passenger traffic, cargo turnover, runway area. Every year, independent organizations rank the largest train stations and determine which is the largest airport in the world. The main indicators for this are considered to be the number of passengers and cargo, because even large areas can be used inefficiently.

Haneda, Tokyo

This complex is among the top largest airports in the world. In 2017, it ranks fifth in the ranking. It serves 60 million passengers a year. In Tokyo, major international flights pass through another hub, while Haneda receives a large number of domestic flights. Overseas flights are available to Seoul, Shanghai, Honolulu, Paris, Frankfurt and Hong Kong. There is a hotel for passengers at the airport and several other hotels in the immediate vicinity.

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

This complex is located 29 km northwest of Chicago. Today it is fourth in the ranking of airports. Not long ago he took first place, but numerous flight delays deprived him of this title. The airport has seven take-off lanes, but they cannot be used at the same time, as some of them intersect. There are nine halls here, there are four sectors. Passenger service is excellent. It is also popular among filmmakers. Episodes for the film Home Alone were filmed here. The Chicago airport receives 77 million passengers a year.

Dubai International Airport

This enterprise in Dubai has been growing rapidly in recent years. It is located a ten-minute drive from the center and is home to the major airline Emirates, which operates the largest number of Boeings. The airport has four passenger and one cargo terminals. There is a special section for believers. There are two runways in operation. In 2017, the air hub served 83 million passengers and moved to third place in the ranking.

Dubai is also the largest airport in the world by area. It occupies 3.5 thousand hectares. The terminal area is more than 1 million square meters. m. You have to travel between them by metro. The terminals have five-star rooms, entertainment centers, spas, and gyms.

Capital International Airport in Beijing

The Beijing airport opened in 1958 and has been reconstructed several times. It is the largest in Asia. Over the past year, 90 million clients have used its services. The airport has three terminals housing more than 80 food outlets. The administration carefully monitors that prices are not higher than city prices. The runway can accommodate aircraft of any size. Buses run constantly between the terminals. The airport is connected to the city by expressway. The journey to the city takes 40 minutes. The third place in the ranking of this node is well deserved.

Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta

It is the largest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic in 2017. 104 million people passed through it. That's about a third of the population of the United States. The airport is located approximately 10 km from Atlanta, the capital of Georgia. It also holds first place in the number of takeoffs and landings. Five runways are constantly busy. Flights are carried out in all directions, both within the country and abroad. The airport is named after two people: William Hartfield (its founder) and the city's mayor, Maynard Jackson. Shops, cafes, hotels, a children's area, and a recreation area are constantly open to visitors in two terminals. There is an underground passage between the terminals, along which buses run every two minutes. The crossings are equipped with moving sidewalks. Today it is the largest airport in the world.

Airports of Russia

Not a single Russian airport is among the top largest airports in the world. The two largest Moscow airports, Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo, occupy 58th and 69th places, respectively. Sheremetyevo Airport was opened in 1959 and has been extensively reconstructed several times. There are six terminals on the territory. Their total area is 500 thousand square meters. m. The airport is a first class complex. Most flights abroad depart from Sheremetyevo. It is able to accommodate aircraft of any class. In 2017, 34 million passengers passed through it. A new 3,200 m long runway is being built for the FIFA World Cup.

Domodedovo Airport is the second airport in terms of passenger traffic in Russia. It was opened in 1964. In 1999, its reconstruction began. As part of these transformations, the entire complex was completely changed, which opened in 2000. From 2004 to 2008, the passenger terminals were modernized, as part of which their area was increased to 500 thousand square meters. m. In 2011, it was recognized as the best airport in Eastern Europe. A new passenger terminal area with an atrium and three will be opened for the FIFA World Cup. A multi-level parking lot and a new runway are being built. In 2017, 28.5 million passengers used Domodedovo services.

Now there is active construction and reconstruction of airports in those Russian cities that will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They are expected to welcome more than a million fans and guests from all over the world.

There are many airports in the world that surprise you with their unusualness, although they are not included in the 10 largest airports in the world. In Osaka, Japan, the airport terminal was located in the city and could no longer cope with the required load. It was impossible to find free space for new construction near the city, so the territory was formed artificially. Soil was specially poured right into the sea and an island was created. A gigantic engineering task was accomplished. earned successfully. When designing, it was assumed that the island would sink into the sea, but the rate of sinking turned out to be much higher. In 1994, the island sank by 50 cm. The authorities are actively fighting this and now this rate has decreased significantly. Passengers do not notice these problems. But the spectacular landing in the sea cannot be forgotten.

Gibraltar International Airport is located on a narrow sandy isthmus. On both sides the runway faces the sea, the Strait of Gibraltar. It is only 1,680 m long, limiting the types of aircraft that can fly there. In addition, the runway crosses the highway. When planes take off or land, the route is blocked by a barrier. Drivers can enjoy the view of air giants taking off or landing.

On the island of Madeira in Portugal, the airport is built on a special overpass. Pilots experience the thrill of taking off or landing on a narrow runway with sea on one side and mountains on the other.

Airport in Sochi

In Russia, Sochi airport is one of the most difficult for pilots. It is located between the sea and the mountains. You can land there only from the sea. Because of the mountains, the plane cannot go around if necessary. Strong side winds and the proximity of the sea significantly complicate the crew’s work. On December 25, 2016, a TU-154 of the Ministry of Defense crashed while flying to Latakia. It crashed into the sea after 70 seconds of flight. 92 people died in the disaster. Among the dead were Elizaveta Glinka (Dr. Lisa) and musicians of the ensemble. Alexandrov, headed by leader V. M. Khalilov.