The Three US Airports With The Most Nonstop Flights

Whether you're flying over the pond, across the country, or to a quintessential small town, there's a good chance that you'll be passing through one of the busiest airports in the United States. In fact, out of the world's most well-connected airports in terms of available destinations, three airports in the U.S. rank in the top 10. According to a study conducted by DirectFlights, Dallas-Fort Worth, American Airlines' fortress in north Texas, is on top — serving 270 routes to over 40 countries and all 50 states. In second place is Chicago O'Hare, United's largest base, which serves 268 destinations, 47 countries, and all 50 states. Rounding out the top three in the U.S. is Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta, which serves every state in the union, as well as 247 total destinations worldwide. 

These three airports generate billions in revenue and taxes, welcoming passengers from all over the world to the United States. And while most of the other top 10 airports are located internationally, the U.S. is the only country to have multiple airports in both categories. So, which airport took the top spot? Based on the number of direct routes, the answer is Istanbul Airport, which currently offers a whopping 317 routes. Beyond that, the travel hub is also known as one of the best airports for layovers in the world. Serving as the main base for Turkish Airlines, Istanbul Airport soared to new heights in 2024 when it snagged the record for the "Most Countries Flown by an Airline" with 120 different destinations, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

With most major airlines running a hub-and-spoke operation for domestic and international flights, geography plays a key part in why Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas, in particular, have so many direct flights. By feeding these airports, airlines like American, Delta, and United can not only operate more efficiently, but also dominate their respective hubs — each located within a four-hour flight of most cities in North America. Similarly, this has also helped develop them into major transfer hubs for millions of passengers flying around the globe. Currently, however, none of these three serve all six continents, although O'Hare has in the past.

When you look at the departure or arrival boards from O'Hare, DFW, and Atlanta, you'll quickly notice direct flights on offer to destinations like London, Paris, and Tokyo, as well as stateside cities that feed these hubs. For more exotic destinations, American, Delta, and United often partner with other airlines to carry passengers from their fortress hubs. For example, DFW's longest route is a 17-hour jaunt to Melbourne, Australia, aboard Qantas — American Airlines' Australian oneworld Alliance partner. From O'Hare, United directly serves Tokyo-Haneda, but also codeshares (aka, sells tickets for) direct flights to Tokyo-Narita via All Nippon Airways.

Finally, although Los Angeles International (LAX) and New York's JFK International Airport didn't make the top three in terms of destinations, they did crack the top 10, and are also considered major international gateways served by dozens of foreign airlines. LAX is a major gateway for flights to the Asia-Pacific region, while JFK is the only airport in the country with direct flights to all six inhabited continents, and a nearly 19-hour, 8,288-mile trip to Singapore, the longest in the world.

If you'll be starting your trip in one of these airports, note that TSA lines can back up. According to Upgraded Points, travelers hitting Dallas-Fort Worth, O'Hare, or Atlanta at peak travel times can expect to spend over half an hour in line. This means that, if you're looking to breeze through, you might want to consider signing up for TSA PreCheck, where you can largely skip waiting in long lines. 

Additionally, connecting passengers flying through one of these mega-hubs may also have to change terminals, but there's no need to worry. Even though all three sprawling airports are the size of a small city, it isn't too tough to get around them. In fact, the different terminals in DFW, O'Hare, and Atlanta are all well-connected after security, meaning you won't have to go through TSA again. That is, unless you have a very late night or early morning connection at Terminal 5 in Chicago.

Additionally, it's always important to double-check the weather and be prepared for a possible delay. Dallas and Chicago are ranked as two of the top 10 weather-delayed airports in the country by The Weather Channel, coming in at No. 9 and No. 3, respectively. Worse yet, bad weather at any one of these three airports can gum up an airline's entire operation, leading to incredibly long lines waiting for a hotel or meal voucher. That said, be sure to have a plan in place in case nearby airport hotels and lounges fill up, and carry a spare change of clothes and snacks in your bag. If you happen to get stranded overnight, opt for sleeping in a public place instead of unexpectedly dangerous spots like meditation or prayer rooms, where you're more likely to get robbed, especially if traveling solo.