Quantcast

Largest air force bases surpass commercial airports by land area

Spirit Airlines Explores Bankruptcy Filing
Here's how Southwest Airlines' new seating and boarding process will work
Delta Adds New Route to Asia
Southwest Airlines will begin selling assigned seats in 2025
United Airlines Pilot Buys Passengers Pizza In Albuquerque After Flight Was Delayed 7 Hours
Czech Airlines to Cease Operations, Ending 23-Year SkyTeam Partnership
An Asian airline hopes launching one of the world's longest narrowbody routes will actually be a comfort upgrade for passengers
Airlines begin canceling flights, offering rebooking ahead of Hurricane Helene
Southwest Airlines to cut service and staffing in Atlanta to slash costs
New heights, new features: Discover Alaska’s enhanced Flight Pass subscription service
Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers
American Airlines welcomes JetSMART to the award-winning AAdvantage program
Explore Japan for free? Japan Airlines offers free domestic flights to foreign travelers
Delta named Official Airline Partner of Birmingham City Football Club
American Airlines to Cut These Routes to Las Vegas, Orlando, and More — Here's Why
Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers
Southwest wouldn't really start charging for bags — right?
JD Power ranked this Midwest airport as the best among largest airports in North America
Alaska Airlines Chief Plans More Routes After a Deal With Hawaiian
Air Canada could begin suspending flights soon as strike deadline nears
JetBlue's new ticket policy entitles every passenger to a carry-on bag
Why United Airlines’ CEO makes as few decisions as possible
American invests in the future of aviation maintenance with new jobs, additional work
DOT probe seeks to determine if frequent flyer programs are fair to travelers
American Airlines flight diverted after passenger starts vaping
Russian Airline Wants $100 Million From Canada for Seizing Its Giant Cargo Plane
Here's where American Airlines is adding flights to Europe in summer 2025
Major airline grounds Airbus A350 fleet, citing faulty engine component
Airline CEO wants airports to cap passengers at 2 alcoholic drinks to limit on-board disruptions
Regulator cuts Malaysia Airlines' air operator certificate duration after probe
Largest air force bases surpass commercial airports by land area
Policy
Webp denverairport
Denver International Airport, | Denver

When comparing the size of the world's largest airbases to major commercial airports, military installations are notably larger. Denver International Airport, one of the largest airports globally, spans 34,000 acres but is dwarfed by the largest air force base. King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, although mostly undeveloped, is less than half the size of the biggest air force bases.

The United States Air Force (USAF), with over 5,000 aircraft, operates some of the world's largest airbases. These bases often consist mainly of restricted areas used for training rather than developed infrastructure. For instance, Edwards Air Force Base exceeds 300,000 acres in total area but has less than 20,000 acres developed.

The five largest air force bases by total area include:

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

1. Eglin Air Force Base in Florida covers approximately 464,000 acres and is part of the largest military testing range in the US. It hosts significant research activities including artificial intelligence and hypersonic development.

2. Edwards Air Force Base in California spans over 301,000 acres and serves as USAF's primary testing facility with a long history dating back to World War II.

3. Pituffik Space Base in Greenland covers 233,000 acres and is notable for its challenging Arctic conditions. It transitioned from USAF to US Space Force control in 2020.

4. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska encompasses about 84,000 acres following a merger between Fort Richardson and Elmendorf AFB in 2010.

5. Andersen Air Force Base on Guam covers around 20,000 acres and plays a crucial role due to its strategic location in the Indo-Pacific region.

These bases not only serve as critical military installations but also play key roles in various research and operational capacities across different terrains worldwide.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

American Express has introduced a new benefit for its Business Gold Card holders, offering up to $150 in annual statement credits for U.S. purchases made with Squarespace.

Oct 25, 2025

Kawal Preet, Executive Vice President of Planning, Engineering, and Transformation at FedEx and former President of the Asia Pacific region, has been named to Fortune magazine’s “2025 Most Powerful Women in Business: Asia” list.

Oct 25, 2025

On October 22, Air France announced it will begin regular flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Las Vegas starting April 15.

Oct 25, 2025

Airbus has established itself as a leading commercial aircraft manufacturer, surpassing Boeing in the late 2010s to become the world's largest producer of airliners.

Oct 25, 2025

FedEx Express and UPS Airlines are two of the largest cargo carriers in the world, with both companies operating extensive fleets and moving significant volumes of freight globally.

Oct 25, 2025

The Dubai Airshow, the largest event of its kind in the region, is set to return in 2025 with more than 200 aircraft expected to be on display.

Oct 25, 2025