ALL NEWS

Atlanta airport takes number one spot, but Salt Lake International primed for growth

May 1, 2022, 7:39 PM | Updated: May 2, 2022, 5:14 pm

Salt Lake's airport is listed as the 70th busiest in the world, and is 21st in North America....

Salt Lake International Airport did not make the list of world's top ten busiest airports, but is poised to grow in coming years. Photo courtesy of KSL News

SALT LAKE CITY  —  As the summer travel season gets under way,  Salt Lake International Airport is expecting an uptick in passengers.  Deseret News reporter Bridger Beal-Cvetko reports as busy as Salt Lake’s airport can get during peak travel seasons, a report by Airports Council International World lists Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson as the busiest airport in the world.  Hartsfield-Jackson totaled over 75 million passengers in 2021.  Salt Lake City is ranked as 70th busiest in the world,  21st overall in North America.

“It sounds like the airport built away from the city on a lot of flat land out in Atlanta, a lot of open space has really given it room to grow. I thought of Salt Lake City, having a lot of space, so I think as the city grows and as the community along the Wasatch Front continues to grow I see Salt Lake City really climbing up the list,” says Beal-Cvetko.

Beal-Cvetko says Salt Lake served nearly 22.4 million passengers in 2021, but is still 17% below pre-pandemic numbers.  The airport saw nearly 27 million passengers in 2019.

As Phase 2 gets under way, new shops, restaurants and gates, and a Central Tunnel to connect A and B Concourses should make it easier to handle bigger crowds as Salt Lake City and surrounding areas see a growth in population.

“A lot of what they’ve done with the space in the airport, it’s a lot bigger than it was before. It sounds like they’re trying to re-imagine the airport to make it more accessible not only to more passengers but more freight as well,” according to Beal-Cvetko.

Phase 2 is expected to be opened in 2024.

Nearby Denver, Vegas airports make the top ten

Also making the top 10 world’s busiest airports is nearby Las Vegas where Harry Reid International Airport saw 39.8 million passengers.  Beal-Cvetko says he is surprised, but understands why Vegas airport is so busy.

“You know I think Las Vegas and maybe Denver as well, both in the top 10, both are in the middle of the country are good connecting points to the rest of the country.  I was surprised to see that one on there with some of the bigger airports you might expect,” says Beal-Cvetko.

According to USA Today, the Orlando International Airport saw the biggest year-to-year increase from No. 27 in 2020 to No. 7 in 2021, an 87% increase in passengers.

Airports are in COVID-19 recovery mode

Beal-Cvetko says no surprise, the last 2-plus years of the spread of COVID-19 has changed the airport landscape.

“In 2020 an airport in China was the busiest airport, it beat out Atlanta but Atlanta took that spot back in 2021,” says Beal-Cvetko. “That’s probably due to China’s lock downs that were still ongoing last year into this year that’s probably played a part.”

China’s Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport saw the world’s biggest drop-off in passengers with an 8% decrease, according to Business Insider.

Atlanta is still 32% behind it’s 2019 numbers, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina — which is the closest to a full recovery — is still 13% below where it was in 2019.

8 of the world’s top 10 busiest airports are located in the U.S.

Here’s the full list of the world’s ten busiest airports in 2021:

  1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, 75.7 million passengers
  2. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, 62.5 million passengers
  3. Denver International Airport, 58.8 million passengers
  4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport, 54 million passengers
  5. Los Angeles International Airport, 48 million passengers
  6. Charlotte Douglas International Airport, 43.3 million passengers
  7. Orlando International Airport, 40.4 million passengers
  8. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, China, 40.3 million passengers
  9. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, China, 40.1 million passengers
  10. Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport, 39.8 million passengers

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

All News

The Powder Baby Dry Shampoo team poses with its check after winning the 2024 Utah Entrepreneur Chal...

Logan Stefanich, KSL.COM

BYU student startup wins $30K at Utah Entrepreneur Challenge

BYU entrepreneur Kylee Black, who founded Powder Baby, said the cash prize will be instrumental in advancing her business.

1 hour ago

Utah Jazz Collin Sexton...

Ben Anderson

Jazz 3-18 Since Trade Deadline After Loss To Spurs

At 3-18 since the trade deadline, the Jazz now sit behind the 4-19 Portland Trail Blazers as the league’s worst team since February 8.

2 hours ago

Myrtle Spurge is often touted as deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, but the plant is rapidly inva...

Eliza Pace

Salt Lake County Health warns of harmful myrtle spurge plant

Myrtle Spurge was originally introduced to Utah as a decorative plant but is an invasive species that has spread to natural areas.

2 hours ago

IRS texts are bogus. Picture shows a sign saying "warning, scam alert" on a keyboard...

Britt Johnson

Millions to be paid for Utah’s largest real estate scheme settlement

Over $10 million in refunds will go to victims of a Utah-based real estate scheme following the settlement of a lawsuit.

3 hours ago

Outside of the Yale University Law School is pictured on September 27, 2018 in New Haven, Connectic...

Zenebou Sylla, CNN

Some New England universities, including Yale, break $90,000 barrier for total tuition cost in upcoming school year

(CNN) — Several New England universities and colleges, including Yale, have reached a pinnacle of at least $90,000 for undergraduate tuition and costs starting this fall. Yale University, Tufts University, Boston University (BU), and Wellesley College are among a few private institutions that will top this year’s costs for tuition, housing and other expenses, according to […]

11 hours ago

A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of negligent homicide after he allegedly t...

Pat Reavy, ksl.com

West Jordan man shot, killed best friend while trying to ‘be funny,’ police say

A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of negligent homicide after shooting his "best friend."

11 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Atlanta airport takes number one spot, but Salt Lake International primed for growth