Largest Airports in the World

The world's largest airports are sprawling cities unto themselves, with several of them spanning far greater surface areas than many urban metropolises. The enormity of these airports signifies more than just the economic and commercial vitality of air travel; it also highlights the remarkable feats of engineering and design involved in their creation. In this article, we will focus on the top 15 largest airports based on surface area.

• Saudi Arabia hosts the two largest airports in the world by surface area - King Fahd International Airport and King Khalid International Airport spanning 776 km² and 375 km² respectively.
• American airports dominate the list, underscoring the size and importance of the US aviation industry. Notably, Denver International, which ranks third globally, is not only significantly larger than any other U.S airport, but also the largest airport in North America, covering 135 km².
• Several top-ranked airports are in Asia, demonstrating the significant role of air transportation in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. These include Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, Istanbul Airport in Turkey, Beijing Daxing International Airport in China, and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, each with areas exceeding 39km².
• Despite Dubai International Airport being one of the busiest airports in terms of passenger traffic, it doesn't feature among the largest airports in terms of physical size. It ranks 16th with a size of 35km², showcasing its ability to serve a large volume of passengers within a limited space effectively.

In looking at the sheer surface area, Saudi Arabia's King Fahd International Airport takes the first place with a staggering 776 km².  Next in line is King Khalid International Airport, also in Saudi Arabia, with a land area spreading across 375 km².

The third rank is claimed by Denver International Airport in the United States, which covers a land area of 135 km², making it the largest in terms of surface area in North America.

Another sprawling complex is the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, ranked fourth with a total area of 100 km². Istanbul Airport in Turkey comes fifth, spanning over 76 km².

Next, we find three more American airports in succession. Dallas/Fort Worth International at sixth place with an area of 69 km², followed closely by Southwest Florida International, which covers 54 km². In the eighth position, we have Orlando International, stretching across 53 km².

Also from the United States, the ninth rank is held by Washington Dulles International with an area of 48 km². The list of the top 10 largest airports by surface ends with Beijing Daxing International Airport in China, sprawling over an area of 46 km².

Top 10 Largest Airports in the World by Surface Area:

1. King Fahd International Airport - 776 km² 
2. King Khalid International Airport - 375 km²
3. Denver International - 135 km²
4. Kuala Lumpur International Airport - 100 km²
5. Istanbul Airport - 76 km²
6. Dallas/Fort Worth International - 69 km²
7. Southwest Florida International - 54 km²
8. Orlando International - 53 km²   
9. Washington Dulles International - 48 km²
10. Beijing Daxing International Airport - 46 km²