Few flights at world's largest airport despite massive size

King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, is the largest airport in the world by area, covering approximately 300 square miles. Despite its size, the airport sees relatively few flights compared to its capacity. Aviation analytics company Cirium reports that less than 3,400 flights are scheduled for February, with a peak of 3,841 flights expected in July. In 2024, King Fahd International handled around 12 million passengers, marking an increase from previous years but still falling short of other major airports.

"King Fahd International recently celebrated its quarter-centenary," highlighting its opening in late 1999. The airport was built on a large site to allow for future expansion as demand increased. It has been used mainly for oil and gas flights due to eastern Saudi Arabia's reliance on the oil industry. Despite this specialization, it remains only the third-busiest airport in Saudi Arabia.

The airport's main terminal spans six stories and covers 327,000 square meters. Additionally, there are two other terminals: one for VIPs and another operated by Aramco. Although not the largest based on terminal size alone, King Fahd's total site area surpasses even neighboring Bahrain.