From Singapore Changi to Chicago O'Hare: these airports hold world records

By Tam Anh   September 21, 2025 | 04:30 am PT
Among the more than 40,000 airports worldwide, there are unique aviation hubs that hold records for their height, age, danger, or traffic, making them exceptional.
From Singapore Changi to Chicago O'Hare: these airports hold world records

Tallest indoor waterfall

The 40-meter-tall HSBC Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall, is located in the Jewel complex at Changi Airport, Singapore.

It is encircled by the Shiseido Forest Valley, home to about 2,500 trees and 100,000 shrubs that help regulate the air.

The Skytrain linking Terminals 2 and 3 glides past the falls, and each evening the cascade becomes a music-synced light show.

Changi has also been voted one of the world's best and most modern airports for many years.

Photo by Changi Airport

From Singapore Changi to Chicago O'Hare: these airports hold world records

Highest civilian airport

Daocheng Yading Airport, in Daocheng County, Sichuan, China, opened in 2013 and sits at an elevation of 4,411 meters above sea level, making it the highest civilian airport in the world, according to Guinness World Records.

Qamdo Bamda (Bangda) Airport in Tibet is the second highest at 4,334 meters.

Photo courtesy of the airport

From Singapore Changi to Chicago O'Hare: these airports hold world records

Lowest airport

Bar Yehuda Airport in Israel sits south of the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea, about a two-hour drive from Jerusalem.

Opened in 1963 at an elevation of 378 meters below sea level, it is regarded as the lowest airport in the world, according to Daily Express.

Owing to its location, it sees few scheduled civilian flights and is used mainly as an alternate airfield and for sightseeing flights serving the Dead Sea and the nearby Masada fortress.

Photo by Flightsim

From Singapore Changi to Chicago O'Hare: these airports hold world records

Busiest airport

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest by passenger traffic in 2025, according to Airports Council International.

Located in Atlanta, Georgia, it serves as Delta Air Lines' primary hub and a gateway to major U.S. cities.

The airport routinely handles more than 100 million passengers a year, with flights to over 150 domestic and 70 international destinations.

Photo by Reuters

From Singapore Changi to Chicago O'Hare: these airports hold world records

Largest airport

King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia covers nearly 780 sq.km, making it the largest airport in the world, according to World Population Review and Statista.

It has two parallel 4-km runways capable of handling very large aircraft like the Airbus A380.

The airport serves Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, with connections across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Photo courtesy of the airport

From Singapore Changi to Chicago O'Hare: these airports hold world records

Most connected airport

London Heathrow is the world's leading international connecting hub, ranked by the number of international destinations and daily connections with a network of over 218 destinations worldwide, according to OAG Aviation.

It serves as a major hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and consistently ranks among the top airports by annual international passenger traffic.

Photo courtesy of the airport

From Singapore Changi to Chicago O'Hare: these airports hold world records

Oldest airport

Opened in 1909, College Park Airport in the City of College Park, Prince George's County, Maryland, is the world's oldest continuously operating airport, according to its website.

Originally a training field for the U.S. Army Signal Corps under Wilbur Wright, it began hosting civilian flights in December 1911.

In 1977, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Photo by Wiki

From Singapore Changi to Chicago O'Hare: these airports hold world records

Most dangerous airport

Tenzing–Hillary Airport, also known as Lukla Airport in Nepal, is widely considered as the world's most dangerous airport, according to Forbes.

It sits at about 2,845 meters (9,334 feet) above sea level in the Himalayas.

Its runway is only around 527 meters long with a 12% gradient and ends at a sheer cliff on one side and a deep drop on the other, leaving no room for go-arounds.

Weather shifts rapidly—fog, strong winds, and storms often cut visibility—so only specially trained, highly experienced pilots are authorized to operate here.

Photo by Wiki

From Singapore Changi to Chicago O'Hare: these airports hold world records

Airport with most runways

Chicago O'Hare International Airport has the most runways of any civilian airport in the world, totaling eight.

The airport also features multiple large terminals and concourses to handle heavy passenger volumes.

Thanks to its central U.S. location, O'Hare serves as a major hub for both domestic and international connections.

Photo courtesy of the airport

 
 
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