Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport awarded its 100 millionth passenger for 2015 with prizes including a new car, two free airline tickets and a small crowd of officials and television cameras early Sunday morning.
The Atlanta airport -- the world's busiest -- is the first airport in the world to handle 100 million passengers in a year.
"It’s our commitment that we maintain our position as the world’s most traveled airport," said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed during remarks at the airport before the flight arrived Sunday morning.
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
The winner, a man from Biloxi named Larry Kendrick who arrived at the airport in blue jeans, an orange t-shirt and a baseball cap, was surprised to learn upon landing that he had been selected as the 100 millionth passenger.
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi
"That's a very big surprise," Kendrick said. "I have no clue where I'm going to go. Probably to Disneyland."
The airport hit the milestone of 100 million annual passengers as it saw a 5 percent increase in passenger counts this year, growing faster than the U.S. economy, according to Hartsfield-Jackson general manager Miguel Southwell.
