Flying to the United States

Overview

As one might expect, the home of Boeing holds multiple records in commercial air transport. It is the country with the most airports/aerodromes in the world (over 13,500!), the most airlines (around sixty of all kinds), including the largest (American Airlines, Delta, United) with the most aircraft, as well as those that carry the most passengers (four of the world's top five carriers are American).

It is also home to the world's busiest airport by annual passenger numbers—Atlanta, with 106 million (2025)—and eight of the ten airports with the most aircraft movements. In short, air travel is omnipresent in the United States, making the country easily accessible from anywhere in the world.

Local airlines

• American airlines in detail

With around sixty scheduled commercial airlines, the United States has the highest number of carriers under its flag. While some of the most well-known names are ones travelers will likely use—especially for transatlantic flights—there are also many others, varying in size and network, that you may discover or use during your travels across this vast country, which is as large as Europe.

By region

Each American region has its own international or preferred entry points when arriving from Europe or elsewhere. Here’s a breakdown:

• Flying to New England: via Boston, or for more options, nearby New York airports or even Montreal in Quebec.

• Flying to the U.S. East Coast: primarily via New York airports, as well as Philadelphia or Washington-Baltimore.

• Flying to Florida: via Miami and Orlando, the state’s two main air gateways, followed by Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and other "million-passenger" airports.

• Flying to the U.S. South: via Atlanta, the world’s busiest hub by traffic, as well as Charlotte, New Orleans, Nashville, Raleigh, or even airports in neighboring regions.

• Flying to Texas: primarily via Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, with Austin or San Antonio as alternatives.

• Flying to the Midwest and Great Plains: via Chicago, as well as Detroit, St. Louis, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

• Flying to the American West: in addition to California airports, primarily via Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, and Salt Lake City.

• Flying to California: via Los Angeles and San Francisco, of course, but also other options around these cities, such as San Diego, San Jose, Santa Ana/Orange County, Oakland, and Sacramento.

• Flying to the Pacific Northwest: via Portland and especially Seattle-Tacoma, or even Vancouver in Canada.

• Flying to Alaska: via Anchorage and, secondarily, Juneau and Fairbanks.

Additional information