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U.S. airports - public and private 1990-2017
U.S. airports - public and private 1990-2017
Number of public and private airports in the United States from 1990 to 2017*
While the number of public use airports in the United States has fallen since 1990, the number of private use airports has increased in recent years. In 2017, there were 5,104 public airports in the U.S., a slight decrease from the 5,145 public airports operating in 2014. Conversely, the number of private airports increased over this period from 13,863 to 14,263.
Public use versus private use airports
The distinction between public and private use airports refers to usage, not ownership. A public use airport is defined by the FAA as ‘an airport available for use by the general public without a requirement for prior approval of the airport owner or operator’, whereas prior approval is required for private use airports. Included here under the term airport are also heliports, seaplane bases, and facilities for other aerial hobbies.
Air passenger traffic in the United States
The last decade has seen consistent increases in the number of domestic passengers carried by major U.S. airlines, the number of international passengers travelling to and from the U.S., and the overall number of passenger-miles flown. It may therefore seem strange that the number of public use airports has decreased. This change can likely be explained, at least in part, by the significant decline in the number of regional flights over this period.
Number of public and private airports in the United States from 1990 to 2017*
Loading statistic...
| Public use | Private use | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 5,104 | 14,263 |
| 16 | 5,136 | 14,112 |
| 14 | 5,145 | 13,863 |
| 13 | 5,155 | 14,009 |
| 12 | 5,171 | 14,269 |
| 11 | 5,172 | 14,339 |
| 10 | 5,175 | 14,353 |
| 09 | 5,178 | 14,298 |
| 08 | 5,202 | 14,451 |
| 07 | 5,221 | 14,839 |
| 06 | 5,233 | 14,757 |
| 05 | 5,270 | 14,584 |
| 04 | 5,288 | 14,532 |
| 03 | 5,286 | 14,295 |
| 02 | 5,286 | 14,286 |
| 01 | 5,294 | 14,062 |
| 00 | 5,317 | 13,964 |
| 95 | 5,415 | 12,809 |
| 90 | 5,589 | 11,901 |
| Public use | Private use | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 5,104 | 14,263 |
| 16 | 5,136 | 14,112 |
| 14 | 5,145 | 13,863 |
| 13 | 5,155 | 14,009 |
| 12 | 5,171 | 14,269 |
| 11 | 5,172 | 14,339 |
| 10 | 5,175 | 14,353 |
| 09 | 5,178 | 14,298 |
| 08 | 5,202 | 14,451 |
| 07 | 5,221 | 14,839 |
| 06 | 5,233 | 14,757 |
| 05 | 5,270 | 14,584 |
| 04 | 5,288 | 14,532 |
| 03 | 5,286 | 14,295 |
| 02 | 5,286 | 14,286 |
| 01 | 5,294 | 14,062 |
| 00 | 5,317 | 13,964 |
| 95 | 5,415 | 12,809 |
| 90 | 5,589 | 11,901 |
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While the number of public use airports in the United States has fallen since 1990, the number of private use airports has increased in recent years. In 2017, there were 5,104 public airports in the U.S., a slight decrease from the 5,145 public airports operating in 2014. Conversely, the number of private airports increased over this period from 13,863 to 14,263.
Public use versus private use airports
The distinction between public and private use airports refers to usage, not ownership. A public use airport is defined by the FAA as ‘an airport available for use by the general public without a requirement for prior approval of the airport owner or operator’, whereas prior approval is required for private use airports. Included here under the term airport are also heliports, seaplane bases, and facilities for other aerial hobbies.
Air passenger traffic in the United States
The last decade has seen consistent increases in the number of domestic passengers carried by major U.S. airlines, the number of international passengers travelling to and from the U.S., and the overall number of passenger-miles flown. It may therefore seem strange that the number of public use airports has decreased. This change can likely be explained, at least in part, by the significant decline in the number of regional flights over this period.
Show morePublic use versus private use airports
The distinction between public and private use airports refers to usage, not ownership. A public use airport is defined by the FAA as ‘an airport available for use by the general public without a requirement for prior approval of the airport owner or operator’, whereas prior approval is required for private use airports. Included here under the term airport are also heliports, seaplane bases, and facilities for other aerial hobbies.
Air passenger traffic in the United States
The last decade has seen consistent increases in the number of domestic passengers carried by major U.S. airlines, the number of international passengers travelling to and from the U.S., and the overall number of passenger-miles flown. It may therefore seem strange that the number of public use airports has decreased. This change can likely be explained, at least in part, by the significant decline in the number of regional flights over this period.
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- Release date
- October 2018
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1990 to 2017
- Supplementary notes
-
Includes civil and joint-use civil-military airports, heliports, STOL (short takeoff and landing) ports, and seaplane bases in the United States and its territories. Sole-use military airports are not included.
* 2015 data was not available.
Source
- Show sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- October 2018
More information
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1990 to 2017
- Supplementary notes
-
Includes civil and joint-use civil-military airports, heliports, STOL (short takeoff and landing) ports, and seaplane bases in the United States and its territories. Sole-use military airports are not included.
* 2015 data was not available.
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Statistics on "U.S. airports"
- Overview
The most important statistics
- Number of public and private airports in the United States from 1990 to 2017*U.S. airports - public and private 1990-2017
- State of NPIAS airports* in the United States from 2000 to 2017, by runway pavement conditions*U.S. airports - runway pavement conditions 2000-2017
- Busiest U.S. airports in 2017, based on the number of passengers enplaned (in millions)Busiest U.S. airports - number of passengers 2017
- U.S. airports with the lowest average airfare in 2017 (in U.S. dollars) Most affordable U.S. airports by average airfare 2017
- On-time performance
The most important statistics
- The world's most punctual major airports* in 2018, ranked by on-time performancePunctuality of the world's major airports 2018
- The world's most punctual large airports* in 2018, by on-time performancePunctuality of the world's large airports 2018
- North America's most punctual regional airlines in December 2018, ranked by on-time arrival performancePunctuality of regional airlines in North America in December 2018
- The most punctual major airports in the United States in 2018, ranked by on-time arrivalPunctuality of the major airports in the United States 2018
- Main hubs of U.S. airlines
The most important statistics
- JetBlue's U.S. passenger traffic at New York John F. Kennedy Airport from 2011 to 2018 (in 1,000 passengers)JetBlue's passenger traffic at New York JFK Airport 2011-2018
- Spirit Airlines' passenger traffic at main hubs in 2018 (in million passengers)Spirit Airlines' passenger traffic at main hubs 2018
- Southwest Airlines' main hubs in November 2018, ranked by the number of daily departures *Main airports of Southwest Airlines - daily departures 2018
- American Airlines: passenger traffic at main hubs in 2018 (in million passengers)American Airlines' passenger traffic at main domestic hubs 2018
- United Airlines: passenger traffic at main hubs in 2018 (in million passengers)United's passenger traffic at main domestic hubs 2018
- Delta Air Lines' passenger traffic at main hubs in 2018 (in million passengers)Delta's passenger traffic at main hubs 2018
- Atlanta International Airport
The most important statistics
- Passenger traffic at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport between 2000 and 2018 (in millions)Passenger traffic at Atlanta Airport 2000-2018
- Number of flight operations at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport from FY 2015 to FY 2018 (in 1,000s)Flight operations from the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport 2015-2018
- Number of air cargo and mail uplifted from the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport from FY 2015 to FY 2018 (in metric tons)Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta Airport: air cargo and mail uplifted 2015-2018
- Total revenue of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport from FY 2015 to FY 2018, by type (in million U.S. dollars)Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport - total revenue by type 2015-2018
- Operating expenses of the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport from FY 2015 to FY 2018 (in million U.S. dollars)Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport - operating expenses 2015-2018
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport
The most important statistics
- Passenger traffic at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport between 2000 and 2018 (in millions)Passenger traffic at Chicago Airport 2000-2018
- Chicago O'Hare Airport's operating revenue from FY 2014 to FY 2017, by type (in million U.S. dollars)Chicago O'Hare Airport - operating revenue by type 2014-2017
- Chicago O'Hare Airport's operating expense before depreciation from FY 2014 to FY 2017, by type (in million U.S. dollars)Chicago O'Hare Airport - operating expense by type 2014-2017
- Los Angeles International Airport
The most important statistics
- Passenger traffic at Los Angeles International Airport from 2000 to 2018 (in millions)Passenger traffic at Los Angeles International Airport 2000-2018
- Los Angeles World Airports' operating revenue from FY 2016 to FY 2018 (in million U.S. dollars)Los Angeles World Airports - operating revenue 2016-2018
- Los Angeles World Airports' operating expenses before depreciation from FY 2016 to FY 2018, by type (in million U.S. dollars)Los Angeles World Airports - operating expenses by type 2016-2018
- Air cargo traffic at Los Angeles International Airport from FY 2014 to FY 2018, by type (in 1,000 tons)Air cargo by type at Los Angeles International Airport 2014-2018
- Market share of the leading air carriers at Los Angeles International Airport in 2018Air carriers at Los Angeles International Airport - market share 2018
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Statistics on "U.S. airports"
- Number of public and private airports in the United States from 1990 to 2017*
- State of NPIAS airports* in the United States from 2000 to 2017, by runway pavement conditions*
- Busiest U.S. airports in 2017, based on the number of passengers enplaned (in millions)
- U.S. airports with the lowest average airfare in 2017 (in U.S. dollars)
- The world's most punctual major airports* in 2018, ranked by on-time performance
- The world's most punctual large airports* in 2018, by on-time performance
- North America's most punctual regional airlines in December 2018, ranked by on-time arrival performance
- The most punctual major airports in the United States in 2018, ranked by on-time arrival
- JetBlue's U.S. passenger traffic at New York John F. Kennedy Airport from 2011 to 2018 (in 1,000 passengers)
- Spirit Airlines' passenger traffic at main hubs in 2018 (in million passengers)
- Southwest Airlines' main hubs in November 2018, ranked by the number of daily departures *
- American Airlines: passenger traffic at main hubs in 2018 (in million passengers)
- United Airlines: passenger traffic at main hubs in 2018 (in million passengers)
- Delta Air Lines' passenger traffic at main hubs in 2018 (in million passengers)
- Passenger traffic at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport between 2000 and 2018 (in millions)
- Number of flight operations at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport from FY 2015 to FY 2018 (in 1,000s)
- Number of air cargo and mail uplifted from the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport from FY 2015 to FY 2018 (in metric tons)
- Total revenue of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport from FY 2015 to FY 2018, by type (in million U.S. dollars)
- Operating expenses of the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport from FY 2015 to FY 2018 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Passenger traffic at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport between 2000 and 2018 (in millions)
- Chicago O'Hare Airport's operating revenue from FY 2014 to FY 2017, by type (in million U.S. dollars)
- Chicago O'Hare Airport's operating expense before depreciation from FY 2014 to FY 2017, by type (in million U.S. dollars)
- Passenger traffic at Los Angeles International Airport from 2000 to 2018 (in millions)
- Los Angeles World Airports' operating revenue from FY 2016 to FY 2018 (in million U.S. dollars)
- Los Angeles World Airports' operating expenses before depreciation from FY 2016 to FY 2018, by type (in million U.S. dollars)
- Air cargo traffic at Los Angeles International Airport from FY 2014 to FY 2018, by type (in 1,000 tons)
- Market share of the leading air carriers at Los Angeles International Airport in 2018
- Number of public and private airports in the United States as of May 2018, by type of facility
- Number of public and private airports in the United States in 2011, by state
- Number of civil and joint-use airports, heliports and seaplane bases of the United States in 2011
- Countries with the highest number of airports worldwide in 2013
- Total airport enplanements in the U.S. in 2011, by state
- Number of commercial flights at Macau International Airport from 2008 to 2017 (in 1,000)
- Number of airports and heliports operated by Mittarfeqarfiit in 2016
- North America's most frustrating airports overall in 2014, based on index score
- Leading international construction contractors in the airport market in 2016, based on revenue (in million U.S. dollars)
- Operating revenue of the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in FY 2018, by type (in million U.S. dollars)
- The busiest airports in South America in 2017, by number of passengers (in millions)
- Volume of goods carried by the air freight transportation in Spain in 2016, by destination airport (in thousand kilograms)
- Leading airports ranked by number of passengers in Spain in 2017 (in thousands)
- What was the primary mode of transport that you used to get to the airport?
- Airport greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts in North America as of September 2016
- Number of public civil airports in selected cities in Brazil as of August 2018
- Leading 10 air freight transport relationships based on the volume of goods carried in Spain in 2016 (in thousand kilograms)
- Industry revenue of »service activities incidental to air transportation« in Finland from 2011 to 2023 (in million U.S. Dollars)
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