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Before we list the top U.S. international airports, let’s take a global look. London’s Heathrow Airport is, once again, the world’s most internationally connected airport, according to a new report.
That designation comes from global travel data provider OAG’s Megahubs Index 2023, which is compiled every year.
OAG’s flight data platform contains a comprehensive airline schedule and global flight connections database. Its Megahubs Index is compiled by comparing the number of scheduled connections to and from international flights with the number of destinations served by each of the world’s 100 largest and busiest airports and the 100 largest international airports.
While news of Heathrow’s ranking stands to reason since the airport previously held that position in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic crimped international travel, what is surprising is that John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York is now the second most internationally connected airport. Remarkably, JFK was ranked number 18 in OAG’s Megahubs Index in 2019.
“With American Airlines and Delta Air Lines adding new destinations out of New York, along with Air Senegal, Air New Zealand, and others having launched or reopened previously served routes, it’s no surprise JFK exceeded expectations to climb to #2 in the world,” John Grant, chief analyst at OAG, said in a statement.
Top 10 U.S. International Airports With The Most Global Connections
The OAG Megahubs Index 2023 ranks the top 50 international airport megahubs. Interestingly, many of those international airports are located in the U.S.
Here are the top 10 U.S. airport megahubs with the highest number of possible global connections according to OAG’s Megahubs Index 2023.
- John F. Kennedy International, New York
- Chicago O’Hare International, Illinois
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia
- Newark Liberty International, New Jersey
- Los Angeles International, California
- Dallas Fort Worth International, Texas
- Miami International Airport, Florida
- George Bush Intercontinental, Texas
- Seattle–Tacoma International, Washington
- San Francisco International Airport, California
Regional and Smaller International Airports in the U.S.
Federal Aviation Administration’s data show that almost 3 million people fly in and out of major USA airports each day. However, the U.S. also has several regional and smaller international airports that provide international connections to a more limited extent.
Some notable examples include:
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
With 35 domestic and international destinations, Orlando International Airport is the busiest hub in the state of Florida.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
Detroit Metropolitan Airport serves as an important hub for both domestic and international travel to various destinations in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Washington Dulles International Airport offers connections to numerous international destinations and serves as a hub for several airlines.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
From Charlotte Douglas International Airport you can fly to 180 destinations, 36 of which are international locations, plus three U.S. territories.
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Denver International Airport primarily handles domestic flights, but you can fly to 218 destinations with 25 airlines
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
The top international destinations from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport are Toronto and Cancun.
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Formerly known as McCarran International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport serves the Las Vegas Valley, a metropolitan area in Nevada, United States. The top international destinations from here are Toronto and Vancouver.
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is an international airport located in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It serves as a hub for Delta Air Lines and offers flights to a variety of domestic as well as international destinations.
Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL)
FLL is an international airport located in Broward County, Florida, United States. It serves as a major gateway for travelers to and from the area, offering flights to various domestic and foreign destinations.
Domestic Air Travel In The U.S.
The U.S. is the world’s largest market for domestic air travel. With that in mind, OAG also analyzed U.S. airport megahubs to determine which ones have the highest ratio of possible scheduled connections to the number of destinations served by that airport.
Interestingly, Chicago O’Hare International ranked first. While Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International may be the world’s busiest airport, it had a lower ratio of possible scheduled connections to the number of destinations served by the airport — so it was ranked second by OAG.
Here are the top 10 U.S. domestic airport megahubs according to OAG.
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Illinois
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia
- Denver International Airport, Colorado
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Texas
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport, North Carolina
- Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Washington
- Los Angeles International Airport, California
- Harry Reid International Airport, Nevada
- Detroit Metropolitan, Michigan
- George Bush Intercontinental, Texas
For more about air travel, be sure to read our Airports and Flying content. You can also read up on the best airports worldwide.
FAQs
Are There Many International Airports in the USA?
Compared to the total number of airports, the number of international airports in the U.S. is relatively low with only 118 international airports as of 2018. This data could be out-of-date, but by one or two as few changes are made to this list.
What Is the Busiest Airport in the US?
John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City is one of the most well-known and busiest airports in the US. It serves as a major gateway to North America and handles a large number of international flights from various airlines.
Do All US Airports Have International Flights?
No, not all airports in the US have international flights. Only the busiest airports designated specifically as international airports have the necessary infrastructure to handle customs and immigration services for international travel.
Can I Fly Internationally From Regional Airports?
Some regional airports in the U.S. do offer limited international flights to select destinations. However, major international airports generally handle a more extensive range of international flights.
What Are the Best-Known International Airports in the USA?
There are too many really. San Francisco International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Miami International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and Chicago O’Hare International Airport are just some of the major international airports across the USA.
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