How Hartsfield-Jackson became the world's busiest airport

DECEMBER 27, 2015 ATLANTA Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed gives remarks during the ceremony. 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 December 27, 2015. 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. 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. KENT D. JOHNSON/ kdjohnson@ajc.com