Crowd of people on railroad station lobby. As someone who practically lives in airports, I can confirm that they are packed. Forget the doom-and-gloom stories you may have heard in the media about people cutting back, or that the U.S. economy is sliding into recession. The foot traffic at America’s airports tells a very different story. In fact, the latest data show that U.S. airports are operating at near-record capacity, with the top 10 alone accounting for more than a third of all domestic airline seats this summer. To keep up with demand, billions are being poured into new terminals, gates and runways. Let’s take a closer look at the 10 busiest U.S. airports in 2025 and what they reveal about the resilience of the American consumer and traveler. The data comes from OAG Aviation Worldwide. 1. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Atlanta, Georgia, USA - July 27, 2015: Travelers inside the main hall of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It is the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic. Still the king of the skies, ATL holds the crown as the busiest airport in the U.S.—and the world—by scheduled seats. This summer, airlines are offering more than 38 million seats out of Atlanta, a staggering lead of nearly 7 million over the runner-up. MORE FOR YOU And ATL isn’t resting on its laurels. Airport officials are considering issuing nearly $1 billion in bonds—possibly labeled as “green” bonds—to upgrade infrastructure and keep pace with growth. 2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) Mesmerizing Tunnel, Chicago O'Hare Airport O’Hare has been on a tear, climbing back to pre-pandemic levels of operations. FAA data show that in 2024, ORD saw a 5.7% increase in flights compared to the previous year. In July 2025, O’Hare set an all-time record for daily Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screenings: 115,962 passengers on July 20. That was part of the busiest month ever for U.S. air travel, when TSA agents screened 85 million passengers. Chicago is also investing in the future. Work is underway on a $730 million Concourse D expansion, part of a $1.3 billion project that will add 19 gates by 2028. 3. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Dallas Forth Worth airport terminal (DFW) for their monorail system between main airport terminals Everything’s bigger in Texas, including air travel. DFW is now firmly in the #3 spot with 30.7 million scheduled seats this summer. Operations surged 8.2% year-over-year in 2024, outpacing many peers. And with population growth in Texas among the strongest in the nation, that demand isn’t slowing down. DFW is rolling out a massive $9 billion “DFW Forward” expansion plan, including new terminals, roadway upgrades and airfield improvements. The airport also recently won Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards from Airports Council International (ACI) for the third year running in the 40M+ passenger category. 4. Denver International Airport (DEN) Denver International Airport at Dusk Denver is one of the most remarkable airport stories in America. Built on a 53-square-mile campus, DEN has more room to grow than any other airport in the U.S. It already hosts nearly 30 million scheduled seats this summer, placing it fourth overall. The airport is accelerating commercial land development and has the potential to scale up to 12 runways and 100+ million passengers annually. 5. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) LAX sign at Los Angeles International Airport LAX is still the top West Coast gateway, with 27.1 million seats this summer. International traffic, particularly from Asia, is rebounding strongly. As many of you know, Los Angeles is gearing up for the 2028 Olympics with a massive facelift. In February, the City Council approved $5 billion in contracts, part of a broader $30 billion overhaul, to modernize the airport. The projects include rebuilding Terminal 5, upgrading Tom Bradley International Terminal and improving the notoriously congested horseshoe loop. 6. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) New York: people ready for check in at Terminal 4 in JFK airport, New York. In 1963 the airport was rededicated John F. Kennedy International Airport. JFK is booming again, handling 23.6 million seats this summer. International long-haul flights, especially across the Atlantic, are driving growth. The airport is undergoing a historic $19 billion redevelopment program. The crown jewel is the new Terminal 6, a public-private partnership with JetBlue and Vantage, featuring world-class design and even an arts program. The first gates are expected in 2026, with full completion in 2028. 7. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) Las Vegas, United States - November 7, 2022: Terminal of Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in the United States. Las Vegas continues to shine as a leisure travel powerhouse. With 20.3 million scheduled seats this summer, LAS is the seventh-busiest airport in the U.S. That said, the latest numbers show a rare pullback. In June, the airport served 4.7 million passengers, down 6.3% from the same month a year earlier. Year-to-date traffic is off 4.1%, mirroring a broader slowdown in Las Vegas tourism. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported 3.1 million visitors in June, an 11.3% drop from last year, while hotel occupancy fell 6.5%. 8. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) CLT(Charlotte Douglas International Airport). entrance sign at night time. Charlotte, NC USA. November 20th 2023. Charlotte may fly under the radar, but with 20 million seats this summer, it’s a critical hub for American Airlines. This year marks major milestones. The Terminal Lobby Expansion—adding 175,000 square feet—finishes in the fall, and work is underway on a $1 billion Fourth Parallel Runway scheduled to open in 2027. To fund it all, CLT sold $291 million in revenue bonds this spring, while earning recognition as North America’s most financially efficient airport for the third straight year. 9. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) San Francisco International Airport Aerial San Francisco rounds out the top 10 with nearly 19.6 million seats this summer. As the Bay Area recovers from pandemic-related slowdowns, SFO remains a vital hub for transpacific and tech-driven business travel. The airport is in the middle of a $2.6 billion Terminal 3 West Modernization, adding 200,000 square feet and new concessions while retrofitting for seismic safety, with completion set for 2027. Meanwhile, United Airlines is boosting its presence by 20% in 2025, offering 300 daily flights, its largest schedule from San Francisco since 2019. 10. Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) A view of Sea-Tec Seattle Tacoma International Airport form the international Arrivals area on a clear summer morning with delta and united aircraft visible and the tarmac Tied with SFO at 19.6 million seats, SEA has become a major West Coast hub, anchored by Alaska and Delta’s strong operations. The airport is undergoing a $5 billion upgrade program, timed for the 2026 World Cup, which Seattle will help host. Recognized with a 4-Star Skytrax Rating and “Best Airport in North America” three years running, SEA is also advancing its Sustainable Airport Master Plan, the largest expansion in its history, which aims to boost flight capacity by a third over the next decade. The Big Picture People are traveling in record numbers, and airports are straining to keep up. The investment response is a bullish signal not only for air travel, but for the U.S. economy overall. So the next time you hear someone say that consumers are pulling back or that travel is slowing, just point them to the lines at TSA, the packed gate areas and the billion-dollar construction cranes looming over America’s busiest airports. As someone who’s walked those concourses countless times, I can tell you firsthand that America is on the move. Wheels up! Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions