Top 5 World's Biggest Airports by Number of Gates

An airport’s ability to operate smoothly relies heavily on the number of active passenger boarding gates. Contact gates dictate how many planes can load or unload travelers via jet bridges, so having enough is key to meeting demand. For passengers, more gates mean shorter connection times, fewer flight delays, and less time waiting on the tarmac during busy departure periods.

Despite the top 5 being in the USA, this ranking highlights the top global aviation hubs, based solely on active passenger boarding gates directly connected to terminal infrastructure. Remote parking stands that need apron bus transport are excluded unless officially designated as primary gate facilities, as they don’t require the same infrastructure as typical gates. From expansive linear concourses to distinctive horseshoe layouts, these five airports stand out for offering the highest passenger contact capacity.

Number 5 - Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX)
161 gates: Split across nine different terminals'

Los Angeles International Airport operates 161 active boarding gates distributed across nine distinct passenger terminals. Situated on 3,500 acres (1,416 hectares) along the Southern California coastline, the facility banks on its central U-shaped footprint to process tens of millions of travelers each year across four parallel runways. As the West Coast's premier gateway, LAX is a crucial part of transpacific operations, and the airport is home to a wide variety of airlines from both sides of the Pacific.

Number 4 - Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW/KDFW)
168 gates: Semi-circular terminal modules and high-speed transit with rapid passenger transfers across five concourses 

Sprawling across 17,183 acres (6,954 hectares) between Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW operates 168 active passenger boarding gates across five distinct semicircular terminal buildings labeled A through E, according to NerdWallet. Designed in the early 1970s around a central highway corridor, the airport's original blueprint prioritized vehicular convenience, which allowed travelers to park steps away from their departure gate.

Number 3 - Denver International Airport (DEN/KDEN)
172 gates: A linear parallel concourse spine built for high-altitude wide-body capacity

Spanning 33,531 acres (13,570 hectares) across the Colorado plains, Denver International Airport operates a linear midfield concourse layout engineered for high-volume aircraft processing. Official facility data lists 172 active passenger boarding gates distributed across Concourses A, B, and C. Designed around a single main terminal concept, the airport houses all check-in facilities within the iconic tented Jeppesen Terminal, routing travelers to parallel concourses via a subterranean automated train system. Opened in the mid-1990s, the facility is undergoing a $1.3 billion renovation, with the final phase set to be completed in 2027, as detailed in Simple Flying coverage.

Number 2 - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL/KATL)
192 gates: The subterranean transit spine and seven parallel concourses built for relentless mega-hub connecting traffic.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport operates 192 active passenger boarding gates aligned along an efficient subterranean transit spine, as reported by The Daily Express. Covering 4,700 acres (1,902 ha) south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, the airport processes more annual passenger traffic than almost any other commercial aviation facility on earth. According to official facility data published by the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation, these gates are distributed across seven parallel midfield concourses labeled T, A, B, C, D, E, and F, held together by domestic and international terminal buildings at opposite ends of the airfield complex.

Number 1 - Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD/KORD)
199 gates: Dual mega-carrier hubs and four terminal complexes form the world's dense contact gate leader

Chicago O'Hare International Airport holds the top ranking globally with 199 active passenger boarding contact gates. According to official facility data published by the Chicago Department of Aviation, these contact gates are distributed across four active terminal buildings labeled Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5. Covering over 7,200 acres (2,913 ha) on Chicago's northwest side, O'Hare is made up of a combination of older finger piers and linear concourses to maintain high daily flight volume for its two major hub carriers.









Story sourced from here but with alterations
5 Largest Airports In The World By Number Of Gates

Plane spotting from around Brisbane

Yesterday morning, runway 01 was in use at Brisbane Airport, meaning aircraft landing on 01 Right flew near my home. Unfortunately, I had two things working against me. First, the cloud base was very low, around 2,800 feet, so most of the early big jets could be heard but not seen. Second, and more frustrating, Air Services Australia has changed the flight paths for reasons only they know, and instead of planes flying close to home and banking right in front of me, they’re now much farther south and not as close as they used to be.

As the morning progressed, the clouds shifted, and so did we. We drove to my daughter's place, just ten minutes from home, where I snapped a few photos. Afterwards, we headed to a dog park, and I kept taking pictures there as well.

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKE (MSN 36230)
JQ8990 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL) 12 YEARS

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 777-224 N77019 (MSN 35547)
UA96 ARRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO (SFO) 19 YEARS

 SLING 2 24-8489 (MSN 151) 12 YEARS 

GOLD COAST FLYING TRAINING SLING 2 24-8592 (MSN 181) 11 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A321-271NX ZK-NNG (MSN 8908)
NZ141 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 7 YEARS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 400 VH-LQG (MSN 4376)
QLK310D ARRIVING FROM CANBERRA (CBR) 15 YEARS

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-FNOH (MSN 35267)
AC35 ARRIVING FROM VANCOUVER (YVR) 10 YEARS

HOLE IN CLOUD CAUSED BY AIR CANADA

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VZX (MSN 34188)
QF132 ARRIVING FROM CHRISTCHURCH (CHC) 14 YEARS 

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPF (MSN 595)
QF62 ARRIVING FROM TOKYO (NRT) 22 YEARS

FOX CORPORATION GULFSTREAM G800 (MSN 88018) 1 YEAR

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-XZP (MSN 44577)
QF120 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (ALK) 11 YEARS 

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OYF (MSN 11529)
JQ150 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 2 YEARS

AEROPRAKT A32 VIXXEN VH-YVQ (MSN 029) 9 YEARS

GRUMMAN AMERICAN TIGER VH-JJJ (MSN AA5B-1249) 47 YEARS

BASAIR AVIATION PIPER ARCHER III VH-BKM (MSN 2843031) 30 YEARS

CESSNA 172M SKYHAWK VH-UGK (MSN 17263724) 52 YEARS

ROBINSON R22 BETA VH-JKH (MSN 1086) 37 YEARS 

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRBUS A350-941 B-LRS (MSN 128)
CX165 ARRIVING FROM HONG KONG (HKG) 9 YEARS

CHINA AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 B-18906 (MSN 092)
CI53 ARRIVING FROM TAIPEI (TPE) 9 YEARS

BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 6000 N175KH (MSN 9793) 9 YEARS

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VHUYU (MSN 19000126)
QLK1982 ARRIVING FROM NEWCASTLE (NTL) 19 YEARS

CESSNA CUTLASS RG VH-LGI (MSN 172RG0377) 46 YEARS

EMBRAER PHENOM 300E VH-87X (MSN 50500778) 2 YEARS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 400 VH-84P (MSN 4488)
QLK170D ARRIVING FROM PORT MACQUARIE (PQQ) 11 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YFJ (MSN 41001)
VA1393 ARRIVING FROM ADELAIDE (ADL) 14 YEARS

BASAIR AUSTRALIA CESSNA TURBO STATIONAIR TC 
VH-VDC (MSN T20608486) 22 YEARS

Saudia Airbus A320 Burst into Flames at Riyadh Airport Following Deadly Attacks

A disturbing incident at Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH/OERK) in Riyadh has left a Saudia Airbus A320 destroyed after an explosion and fire engulfed the aircraft while it was parked at a terminal.

The incident occurred on Thursday the 8th of October 2026, amid a series of attacks targeting Saudi Arabian airports. Images and video circulating from the airport showed a large plume of black smoke rising into the sky, with reports indicating that the aircraft had sustained substantial damage.

According to sources cited by Reuters, the aircraft may have been struck by a projectile or damaged by shrapnel from an intercepted missile. The precise cause of the damage has not yet been established publicly. Thankfully, initial reports indicated that the aircraft was believed to have been empty of passengers when the incident occurred. However, authorities had not confirmed all the circumstances surrounding the aircraft or whether anyone was injured in the latest incident.

The latest aircraft incident comes against the backdrop of an increasingly dangerous situation at Saudi Arabia’s airports. On Wednesday the 7th of October, an attack on the same airport killed one Sudanese national and injured eight other people, according to Saudi authorities. The incident formed part of a wider series of attacks that also struck Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

For the aviation industry, the events at Riyadh serve as a stark reminder that civil aircraft and airport infrastructure can become unintended casualties of armed conflict.

While the immediate priority is the safety of airport personnel and the travelling public, the longer-term implications include aircraft losses, disrupted flight schedules and uncertainty for airlines operating through the region. Investigators will need to establish exactly what struck the Saudia aircraft, how the fire started and the extent of the damage.

As further information becomes available, the incident will be watched closely by the international aviation community.

Lufthansa Confirms Last Airbus A340-600 Flight

Lufthansa is preparing to retire its last Airbus A340-600, with the last scheduled commercial departure set for the 18th of October 2026, ending more than 23 years of service.

As part of the sweeping renewal of the narrowbody and widebody fleet, the Airbus A340-600 and broader family’s fate has been sealed for some time. Flight LH419 is now set to operate the final service from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD/KIAD) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA/EDDF) on the 18th of October before touching down at the airline’s hub the morning of the 19th of October. The schedule confirmation moves the previously planned operational end from the 24th of October to a week earlier. It follows earlier confirmation that the jet would leave the fleet in October, alongside the grounding of two Boeing 747-400s during the winter season.

Higher fuel prices and other operating expenses have driven the retirement of aircraft like the Airbus A340 and Boeing 747, despite their small resurgence since the COVID-19 pandemic, when they were retired with no intention of returning.

Lufthansa began operating the Airbus A340-600s in the early 2000s, with deliveries of the 600-version reaching thirteen; it was a vital operator. Lufthansa took 32 deliveries of the A340 as part of the almost 100 built. 

Lufthansa A340-600 — the key facts

• 32 aircraft were delivered to Lufthansa over the different type's history
• Currently remaining 4
• The first Lufthansa A340-600 entered service in December 2003
• Length is 75.27 metres (247 ft)
• Wingspan is 63.45 metres (208 ft 2 in)
• Height is 17.29 metres (56 ft 8 in)
• Maximum take-off weight 368 tonnes
• Range about 12,400–12,900 km
• Cruising speed about 890 km/h
• Engines 4 × Rolls-Royce Trent 556
• Lufthansa seating 297 passengers in the published maximum configuration
• Typical Lufthansa layout 8 First, 56 Business, 28/32 Premium Economy and 189 Economy

The Story of Pegasus: The Aircraft Buried Beneath Antarctica:

Deep beneath the snow and ice of Antarctica lies the remains of an aircraft with an incredible story to tell.

The aircraft was a Lockheed C-121 Constellation, a military version of the famous four-engine airliner. Known as Pegasus, the aircraft was being operated by the U.S. Navy when disaster struck near McMurdo Station on the 8th of October 1970.

While attempting to land in terrible Antarctic weather, the aircraft encountered a severe whiteout. With visibility virtually disappearing, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing on the Ross Ice Shelf.

The landing badly damaged the aircraft, but remarkably, all 80 people aboard survived.

With the Constellation too badly damaged to return to service, it was abandoned on the ice. Over the following decades, Antarctica slowly began to reclaim it. Snow and ice accumulated around the aircraft, gradually burying much of the once-impressive Constellation.

The wreck became a familiar landmark for personnel operating in the region, and it eventually gave its name to Pegasus Field, an important Antarctic airfield that served McMurdo Station for many years.

Today, much of the aircraft remains hidden beneath the Antarctic ice. What was once a magnificent four-engine aircraft has become an unusual piece of aviation history — frozen in time in one of the most remote places on Earth.

Some aircraft are retired to museums. Others are scrapped. And then there is Pegasus — an aircraft that became part of Antarctica itself.

Aircraft Information:

Owner/Operator US Navy 

Section: Air Development Squadron Six

Aircraft: Lockheed C-121 Constellation

Registration: 131644

Serial Number: 4145

Engines: 4 x Wright R-3350 Turbo-Compound radial engines

Two widebodys damage in ground collision

Two massive widebody jets collided on the ground at Los Angeles International Airport, highlighting just how little clearance these aircraft often have to operate within.

Delta Air Lines Flight DL7, an Airbus A350-900 bound from Los Angeles (LAX/KLAX) to Tokyo-Haneda (HND/RJTT), was taxiing for takeoff when its left wingtip clipped the horizontal stabilizer of an Air Canada Boeing 777.

Air Canada Flight AC785, a Boeing 777 from Toronto (YYZ/CYYZ), was being towed toward its gate when it stopped just short. Around 10:30 a.m. local time, it made contact, resulting in a collision.
The impact damaged both aircraft, with part of the Delta A350's wingtip reportedly ending up on the Air Canada 777's tail. Despite the size of both jets, no passengers or crew members were reported injured.

Delta's A350 was carrying 275 customers and 15 crew members. Both aircraft were removed from service for inspection and repairs, causing delays and cancellations for the affected flights.

The FAA is investigating the incident, and the exact sequence of events, including the positioning of the aircraft and towing operation, will be important in determining how the collision happened.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Delta Airlines

Code: DL/DAL

Aircraft: Airbus A350-941

Registration: N512DN

Serial Number: 267

Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84

First Flew: 14/12/2018

Age: 7.8 Years

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Air Canada

Code: AC/ACA

Aircraft: Boeing 777-233LR

Registration: C-FIVK

Serial Number: 35245

Engines: General Electric GE90

First Flew: 05/01/2008

Age: 18.8 Years

Looking back on Qantas Flight 72

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPA (MSN 0553)

 

Qantas Flight 72, a scheduled service from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN/WSSS) to Perth Airport (PER/YPPH) made an emergency landing at Learmonth Airport (LEA/YPLM) near Exmouth, Western Australia, on the 7th of October 2008. This was due to an in-flight incident involving sudden, uncommanded pitch-down movements that resulted in serious injuries, including fractures, lacerations, and spinal injuries, to passengers and crew. The aircraft was met by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and Care Flight at Learmonth. 

Fourteen individuals were airlifted to Perth for hospital treatment, and thirty-nine others were also hospitalised. Overall, one crew member and eleven passengers sustained serious injuries, while eight crew members and ninety-nine passengers incurred minor injuries. The investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) identified a malfunction in one of the plane's three air data inertial reference units (ADIRUs) and an unrecognized software design flaw in the Airbus A330's fly-by-wire flight control primary computer (FCPC).

Qantas Flight 72, carrying 315 passengers, departed Singapore at 9:32 am local time. By 10:01 am, the aircraft had reached a cruising altitude of approximately 37,000 feet (11,000 m) and was maintaining a cruising speed of Mach 0.82. The incident began at 12:40 Perth time when one of the plane's three air data inertial reference units (ADIRUs) began supplying incorrect data to the flight computer. As a result, the autopilot automatically disengaged. Shortly thereafter, the pilots received electronic warnings on the aircraft's electronic centralized aircraft monitor about inconsistencies in the autopilot and inertial reference systems, along with conflicting stall and overspeed alerts. At this point, the captain took manual control of the aircraft. The autopilot was re-engaged briefly, prompting the plane to revert to its previously selected flight level. However, the crew disengaged the autopilot after roughly 15 seconds, and it remained off for the rest of the flight.

At 12:42, the aircraft executed a sudden, uncommanded pitch-down maneuver, experiencing -0.8 G and reaching an 8.4-degree pitch down, resulting in a rapid descent of 650 feet (200 m). Twenty seconds later, the pilots managed to return the aircraft to its assigned cruise flight level, FL370. At 12:45, the aircraft underwent a second uncommanded maneuver of a similar nature, this time with an acceleration of +0.2 G, a 3.5-degree pitch down, and an altitude loss of 400 feet (120 m); the flight crew successfully re-established the aircraft's assigned level flight within 16 seconds.

Passengers and crew who were unrestrained—and even some who were restrained—were thrown around the cabin or injured by falling overhead luggage, as well as by impacts with and through the overhead compartment doors. The pilots stabilized the plane and issued a Pan Pan Pan call, which was later escalated to a Mayday when the extent of the injuries became known to the flight crew.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Qantas Airways

Code: QF/QFA

Aircraft: Airbus A330-303

Registration: VH-QPA

Serial Number: 0553

Engines: 2 x GE CF6-80E1A3

First Flew: 11th November 2003

Age: 20.11 Years Old