If you’ve never traveled through the best airports in the world, you’ve done yourself a disservice.
That’s why, in this post, we want to showcase 20 of the absolute best places to land (and fly from) in the world.
20.) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
The Atlanta International Airport has been number one among the busiest airports in the world since 1998. It serves 252,000 passengers each day.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – City of Atlanta
- Hub for – Delta Airlines
19.) Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Located 20 miles outside of Beijing’s city center, Beijing Capital International Airport quickly climbed the rankings of the world’s largest airports, becoming the busiest in Asia and the second on this worldwide list.
- Airport type – Public
- Serves – Beijing
- Hub for – Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainana Airlines
18.) London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Heathrow is the busiest airport in the UK and serves more international passengers than any other airport in the world.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – Heathrow Airport Holdings
- Hub for – British Airways
17.) Tokyo International Airport (HND)
This Tokyo airport, also known as Haneda Airport, handles most of Tokyo’s domestic flights and few international flights.
- Airport type – Public
- Serves – Greater Tokyo Area
- Hub for – Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airlines, Skymark Airlines, Air Do, Solaseed Air, StarFlyer
16.) O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
O’Hare, a mega-airport located in Chicago, Illinois, offers flights to more than 60 international locations. It is number two on the list of the world’s biggest airports according to number of aircraft movements.
- Airport Type – Public
- Owner – City of Chicago
- Hub for – American Airlines, United Airlines, Atlas Air
15.) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
As the busiest airport on the West Coast of the U.S., Los Angeles International, also known as LAX, earned the nickname the “Gateway to the Pacific Rim.”
- Airport Type – Public
- Owner – City of Los Angeles
- Hub for – Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Atlas Air
14.) Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG)
Charles de Gaulle, also known as Roissy Airport, is located to the northeast of Paris and is the main hub of Air France.
- Airport Type – Public
- Owner – Groupe ADP
- Hub for – Air France
13.) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
DFW is considered an airport city because it includes on-airport businesses, such as retail and a hotel. In June 2013, the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport will reach a total of 200 destinations offered to its passengers and join an elite group of airports with this distinction.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – Cities of Dallas and Fort Worth
- Hub for – American Airlines, Ameriflight, UPS Airlines
12.) Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK)
The Soekarno-Hatta Airport, located outside of Jakarta, Indonesia, is currently being expanded to serve a growing number of passengers.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – Government of Indonesia
- Hub for – Batik Air, Cardig Air, Citilink, Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia, Lion Air, Nam Air, Sriwijaya AIr, Airasia
11.) Dubai International Airport (DXB)
This Dubai airport is one of the main airline hubs in the Middle East and serves every continent excluding Antarctica.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – Government of Dubai
- Hub for – Emirates, Flydubai
10.) Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA)
The Frankfurt Airport is the busiest in Germany and offers the largest number of international destinations in the world.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – Fraport
- Hub for – AeroLogic, Condor, Lufthansa, Lufthansa CityLine, Lufthansa Cargo
9.) Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
This airport has been operating since 1998 on the small island of Chek Lap Kok.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – Airport Authority Hong Kong
- Hub for – Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express
8.) Denver International Airport (DEN)
The Denver International Airport is the largest in the U.S. by area and the second largest in the world.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – City & County of Denver Department of Aviation
- Hub for – Frontier Airlines, United Airlines
7.) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
The Suvarnabhumi Airport, also known as New Bangkok International Airport, is located 16 miles from downtown Bangkok.
- Airport type – Public
- Operator – AOT
- Hub for – Bangkok Airways, Jet Asia Airways, Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Thaie VieJet Air
6.) Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
The Changi Airport serves over 100 airlines and is the home base of 8 major airlines in Southeast Asia.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – Government of Singapore
- Hub for – Jet Asia Airways, Scoot, Silk Aire, Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airlines Cargo, FedEx Express
5.) Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
The Schiphol Airport occupies 3,200 acres and is considered an airport city.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – Royal Schiphol Group
- Hub for – KLM, KLM Cityhopper, Martinair, Transavia, TUI Fly Netherlands
4.) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
This airport, formerly known as Idlewild Airport, is located in New York City. It is just one part of the New York City airport system which is the largest in the U.S. and the second largest in the world in terms of travelers served.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – City of New York
- Hub for – American Airlines, Delta Airlines
3.) Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
This airport is located in the Guangdong province of China. It is China’s second busiest airport.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co. Ltd.
- Hub for – 9 Air, China Southern Airlines, FedEx Express, Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines
2.) Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD)
The Madrid Barajas is Spain’s main international airport. Established in 1928, it has now expanded to become one of the most valuable aviation centers in all of Europe.
- Airline type – Public
- Owner – ENAIRE
- Hub for – Air Europa, Iberia
1.) Ataturk International Airport (IST)
This airport was named in honor of the founder of the Republic of Turkey. In 2013, Ataturk International Airport was named Airport of the Year and voted Europe’s Best Airport.
- Airport type – Public
- Owner – General Directorate of State Airports
- Hub for – MNG Airlines, Turkish Cargo, ULS Airlines Cargo