Got flight travel plans for Labor Day? You might want to know what sort of crowds you’re going to face out there on the flight line. Orbitz can tell you. The online travel company ranks the ten busiest airports in the country, along with a couple of international aerodromes. This should help you plan your trip.
First, the international rankings. To no one’s surprise, London Heathrow (LHR) international airport is No. 1. Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) held the number two spot last year, but in 2007 it’s fourth. What’s fascinating is the number of people bound for Cancun (CUN). In 2006, it was the fifth-busiest international airport over Labor Day. This year it’s second.
Here’s Orbitz’ rankings of U.S. airports. When appropriate, Cheapflights has added the major airlines, or airline, at each airport;
1) Chicago O’Hare (ORD) – United Airlines, and American Airlines;
2) Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) – US Airways;
3) Philadelphia International (PHL) – US Airways;
4) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) – Delta Air Lines, and discount airline AirTran Airways;
5) Las Vegas McCarran International (LAS) – discount airline Southwest, and US Airways;
6) New York LaGuardia (LGA);
7) Denver International (DEN) – United Airlines, Frontier Airlines;
8) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX);
9) Phoenix Sky harbor International (PHX) – discount airline Southwest, US Airways;
10) Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) – American Airlines.
Before you note that DFW handles more fliers than, say, New York LaGuardia, understand how Orbitz tallied its list of busiest airports. The online travel company bases the rankings on origin and destination (O&D) traffic only. That excludes connections. The point is that oceans of people connect over DFW; but more of them are actually bound to, or from, an airport such as New York LaGuardia. It’s the same rationale that allows Cancun to be rated the second busiest international airport this coming Labor Day.
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler
