Travelers who jetted off to their favored destinations in 2007 battled rising gas prices, high-priced airline tickets and also elbowed their way through the crowds at some of the nation’s busiest airports.  While air travel trends haven’t changed much for 2008, steering clear of the busiest airports may help keep your travel plans running smoothly.  The Federal Aviation Administration gathers data on airport traffic logs each year, and this information on the number of flights for a given period gives us some insight on activity levels across the country.

Here are the top five busiest airports for the 2007 travel year:

1.    Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta continues to be a popular spot for business conferences and conventions, as well as global travelers who want to explore the South.  This busy hub catered to nearly 1 million flights in 2007; 991,627 flights took off and landed at this airport located just 10 miles south of downtown Atlanta.

2.    Chicago O’Hare International Airport – Chicago, Illinois

Coming in a close second to Atlanta, this airport less than 20 miles of downtown Chicago and accommodated 926,973 flights in 2007.  O’Hare continues to be a buzzing spot filled with world-class restaurants, shopping and entertainment for all types of travelers.

3.    Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport – Dallas, Texas

Catering to 686,711 flights in 2007, the airport in Dallas offers several conveniences and amenities for all travelers.  The airport offers free shuttle service to the city transportation system, and several luxury hotels are located in its vicinity.

4.    Los Angeles International Airport – Los Angeles, California

Located 20 miles outside of downtown LA, this airport accommodated for 680,954 flights in 2007.  Travelers can find cabs, buses and train stations easily from this busy destination, but it can be a challenge to get through the crowds day or night.

5.    Denver International Airport – Denver, Colorado

Located nearly 25 miles outside of downtown Denver, this airport is a popular spot for both domestic and international travelers.  The airport offers convenient bus and trolley services, along with several modern amenities.  The airport accommodated for  619,941 flights in 2007.

Tags: busiest airports, travel information

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 at 5:22 pm and is filed under Travel Planning, Travel Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.