The Best Airports for Business Travelers in 2024

Traveling for work can be a very rewarding experience. From the excitement of finalizing a crucial business deal to the thrill of exploring a new city, there’s a lot to look forward to. Business trips are usually shorter than vacations, so a smooth and stress-free airport experience can significantly impact the trip. Some airports are better equipped for business travelers than others, and several factors contribute to ensuring comfort and ease of travel.

Photo: Courtesy of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Recently, Booking.com for Business revealed the top ten airports in the U.S. for business travel, shedding light on the best places to kickstart your work adventures. The study analyzed data from the country’s busiest airports, considering various factors, including the total number of lounges in each airport, the number of direct flight routes and how many of those flights offer business class, the number of hotels within a two-mile radius, and the overall Skytrax rating.

Other factors were the time it takes to drive to the city’s business district and the number of rental cars available, all combined to create an overall Business Travel Score for each airport.

Best Airports for Business Travel

According to the study, the best U.S. airport for business travel is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), which achieved a total Business Travel Score of 7.98 out of 10—more than one point higher than any other airport in the survey.

ATL offers an impressive 237 direct flight routes, 43.88 percent of which offer business class seating. It’s also conveniently located just an 18-minute drive to downtown Atlanta, while no less than 40 hotels are located within two miles of the airport. Business travelers can also use 18 lounges found within ATL and over 100 shops and high-quality restaurants.

Miami and Los Angeles

In second place, Miami International Airport (MIA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) were tied with a Business Travel Score of 6.9 out of 10.

Photo: Courtesy of Miami International Airport

MIA offers 192 direct flight routes, although just 36.46 percent of these offer business class, while LAX offers slightly fewer routes (189), with over half (55.56 percent) offering business class.

LAX offers slightly more, with 22 lounges, compared to MIA’s 12. They both have standard amenities expected at major airports. LAX has 30 hotels within a two-mile radius but is a 35-minute drive to downtown Los Angeles.

Photo: Tom Bradley Terminal Main Hall, LAX Airport. Courtesy of LAX.

On the other hand, MIA has 43 hotels within a two-mile radius and is just a 24-minute drive to downtown Miami, which is becoming an increasingly popular business travel destination.

From New York to Orlando

The report also revealed the best-performing airports for each category. For instance, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York offers the most lounges (27) out of all airports in the country. Meanwhile, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has the highest number of direct flight routes (258), but only around 22 percent of these routes offer business class.

Photo: Courtesy of Delta

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is considered the best airport for car rentals, with 797 available. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas boasts the highest number of hotels within a two-mile radius (83), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is the closest to the local business district, with an average driving time of just 10 minutes.

Flying Abroad: Dubai on Top

The study also revealed which airports outside of the U.S. are the best for business travel, with the global hub of Dubai International Airport (DXB) coming out on top, offering 264 flight routes, 94.7 percent of which have business class.

Photo: Courtesy of Dubai International Airport

In second place was Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND), followed by Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in third.

Here are the ten best airports outside the U.S. for business travel, according to Booking.com for Business: