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Busiest Airports of the United States
IATA Code
ICAO Code
City
State
Airport Name
International Passengers (Approx. - 2023)
JFK
KJFK
New York
New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport
34.0 million
LAX
KLAX
Los Angeles
California
Los Angeles International Airport
25.8 million
MIA
KMIA
Miami
Florida
Miami International Airport
23.5 million
ORD
KORD
Chicago
Illinois
O'Hare International Airport
13.1 million
ATL
KATL
Atlanta
Georgia
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
11.4 million
EWR
KEWR
Newark
New Jersey
Newark Liberty International Airport
10.9 million
SFO
KSFO
San Francisco
California
San Francisco International Airport
10.2 million
IAH
KIAH
Houston
Texas
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
9.5 million
DFW
KDFW
Dallas/Fort Worth
Texas
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
8.9 million
BOS
KBOS
Boston
Massachusetts
Logan International Airport
7.8 million
US International Airports
The United States operates one of the biggest and busiest air transportation networks in the world and its international airports are central to global connectivity, trade, tourism, and national security. Over 150 international airports across the country serve as vital entry and exit points for hundreds of millions of passengers each year and diplomatic traffic and cargo. U.S. airports that serve international travel are designated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and have federal inspection services for passengers arriving from foreign destinations. The facilities include global mega-hubs in major metropolitan areas and regional international airports that handle cross-border or overseas traffic on a smaller scale.
Busiest International Airports
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York stands as one of the main international airports in the United States because it serves as the busiest airport for international passengers with about 34 million travelers in 2023. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) maintains its position as a major Asian and Oceanian gateway by handling approximately 26 million international passengers. Miami International Airport (MIA) leads international airport traffic with 23.5 million passengers who travel to Latin American and Caribbean destinations. The international traveler traffic at Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), Newark Liberty (EWR), San Francisco (SFO) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) airports reaches into the millions each year.
These airports are not only transit points for passengers but also critical for global freight movement. Facilities such as JFK, LAX, and ORD rank among the top U.S. airports for international cargo volume, enabling the distribution of goods between North America and international markets. Airports are typically equipped with customs clearance zones, immigration facilities, federal security screening, duty-free areas, multilingual signage, and international lounges designed to meet global standards for passenger comfort and efficiency.
Infrastructure and Connectivity
The major U.S. international airports serve as central hubs for both legacy carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines and foreign carriers British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways. The airports operate long-haul flights to Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Oceania, supported by expansive runways, terminal infrastructure, and advanced air traffic management systems. ATL and DFW are among the largest airports, covering thousands of acres and operating domestic and international flights from multiple terminals linked by people movers and monorails.
Multiple international airports have initiated major modernization projects. The JFK airport receives a multibillion-dollar transformation that combines terminal consolidation with runway expansion and technological upgrades while LAX advances its modernization plan by building new transit access and redesigning passenger facilities before the 2028 Olympics. The airport improvements serve to support expected passenger demand growth that FAA predicts will reach pre-pandemic numbers and surpass 260 million international travelers annually by 2027.
Security, Regulation, and Global Role
All U.S. international airports operate under the jurisdiction of federal agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). International airport security infrastructure has undergone significant changes since 9/11, with stricter identity verification, biometric screenings, automated passport kiosks, and facial recognition systems being introduced at many terminals. These measures are in place to protect U.S. borders while ensuring smooth facilitation of legal travel and commerce.
The U.S. international airports perform a diplomatic role by receiving heads of state and international delegations and foreign dignitaries. Many have designated international arrival areas with VIP lounges and customs services tailored for high-profile traffic. The United States maintains high accessibility from every global region through its strategic airport distribution across coastal, border and interior states.