The politicians and economic developers can say it for another year: Atlanta‘s airport is the busiest in the world.
In 2010, for the 13th straight year, more passengers transited Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport than any other. The total, 89.33 million, was up slightly from 88 million in 2009, according to a year-end report issued by the airport Jan. 27.
As the airport enters the final phases of building its new international terminal, Hartsfield remains mostly a transfer point for domestic flights. The number of international passengers increased by 3.47 percent to 9.14 million, a little more than one in every 10. The record for was set at 9.18 million in 2008, but officials have estimated that the number will jump to 13 million by 2015.
For the fifth straight year, Atlanta was also the busiest airport in terms of takeoffs and landings, though the total dropped by 2 percent.
Air cargo, a major focus of Mayor Kasim Reed, increased by 17 percent to 659,129 metric tons, largely thanks to a 24 percent boost in international cargo to 385,136 metric tons.
Visit www.atlanta-airport.com for more information.
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