Top 10 Airports in North America
The top 10 North American Airports based on volume
North American Airports
Although there are tens of thousands of airports in North America, only about 1000 are used for commercial flights. North America has a mix of regional, national and international airports, which are used for a range of different services. The majority of airports in North America are located in the US, where airports range in traffic and size, from the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, to smaller airports that only have one airline flying to them, such as Dawson Community Airport.
This page will outline the top 10, which serve high-density areas with a high volume of daily flights.
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
As the primary global hub for Delta Air Lines, Atlanta consistently holds the title of the busiest airport in the world. Its efficient "ladder" layout—two terminals connected by seven parallel concourses—allows it to handle nearly 2,700 flights a day. In 2026, it remains the ultimate connecting point, with 80% of the U.S. population living within a two-hour flight of its runways.
2. Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
O'Hare is a massive dual-hub for both United and American Airlines, making it one of the most competitive and high-frequency environments in the world. O’Hare is currently the second busiest airfield in the United States, averaging a staggering 2,300+ aircraft movements per day. Currently, the airport is undergoing the "O'Hare 21" project, a multi-billion-dollar expansion that includes the construction of a new Global Terminal to better integrate domestic and international connections.
3. Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
DFW is the primary engine of American Airlines’ global network, facilitating an average of just over 2,000 daily operations. The airport is essentially a self-contained city with seven runways and five terminals. Its high frequency is supported by a massive regional jet network that feeds the "fortress hub," connecting small towns across the Central U.S. to international long-haul flights every few minutes.
4. Denver International (DEN)
A critical mountain-west connector, Denver has surged to an average of around 1,900 daily flights. It currently holds the title for the most domestic nonstop connections in the U.S. (197 destinations). The airport’s vast land area allows for a sprawling runway configuration that minimises ground congestion, enabling United and Southwest to maintain high-cadence "waves" of departures throughout the morning and evening peaks.
5. Harry Reid International (LAS)
Las Vegas has seen one of the fastest growth rates in North America, now handling roughly 1,608 movements per day. Unlike most hubs that rely on connecting traffic, LAS frequency is powered by massive "point-to-point" volume from Southwest and Spirit. Because the airport is landlocked by the city, it operates at near-constant peak capacity, leading to the 2026 push for a secondary supplemental airport in the Ivanpah Valley.
6. Los Angeles International (LAX)
As the premier gateway to the Pacific Coast, LAX manages approximately 1,590 daily flights. While it handles fewer domestic "shuttles" than O'Hare or Atlanta, its frequency is bolstered by a high volume of international wide-body traffic and heavy competition between almost every major U.S. carrier. In 2026, its "Automated People Mover" has finally streamlined ground operations, allowing planes to move to gates more quickly.
7. Miami International (MIA)
Miami has become the undisputed hub for the Americas, averaging 1,400 daily operations. MIA's frequency is largely reliant on its role as the primary gateway for over 100 airlines serving Latin America and the Caribbean. The 2025 expansion of biometric boarding has further increased the speed at which international aircraft can be "turned" and sent back out.
8. Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
Charlotte is a high-efficiency machine for American Airlines, processing about 1,370 movements per day. It is famously known for its "bank" system, where hundreds of planes land and depart within tight 90-minute windows to facilitate passenger connections. Despite having fewer terminals than JFK or LAX, its runway layout allows for extremely high frequency relative to its physical size.
9. John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
JFK serves as New York’s international flagship, handling an average of 1,350 daily flights. Frequency here is a delicate balancing act due to the shared airspace with LaGuardia and Newark. By March 2026, the opening of the initial phases of the "New Terminal One" will have allowed for more efficient gate rotations, helping the airport maintain a steady flow of high-capacity transatlantic and transcontinental flights.
10. Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
Rounding out the top 10, Phoenix benefits from "perpetual VFR" (Visual Flight Rules) weather, which allows it to maintain a consistent 1,320 daily operations with very few weather-related delays. As a secondary hub for American and a major base for Southwest, it serves as the primary pressure-release valve for West Coast air traffic, offering one of the most reliable high-frequency schedules in the country.
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