Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport remained the world’s busiest in 2010, but the Beijing airport is on its heels as a close second.

Hartsfield-Jackson has held on to the No. 1 spot with a 1.5 percent growth in passenger traffic, according to a preliminary report from the Airports Council International.

Beijing Capital International Airport, meanwhile, reported a 13 percent growth in passenger travel compared to 2009 -- leaping over Chicago O’Hare and London Heathrow airports to land the No. 2 spot.

O’Hare climbed to the No. 3 spot, and Heathrow -- one of two airports in the top 30 that did not grow in 2010 -- slipped to the fourth spot, according to the industry group’s report, released Tuesday.

The group’s preliminary report is based on data from more than 900 airports. Passenger traffic increased 6.3 percent worldwide, which was better than expected, the group said. Cargo shipments increased by 15.2 percent in 2010.

The Top 10

Total passengers (enplaned and deplaned) percent change:

Hartsfield-Jackson 89,331,622 +1.5

Beijing Capital 73,891,801 +13.0

Chicago O'Hare 66,665,390 +3.3

London Heathrow 65,884,143 -0.2

Tokyo/Haneda 64,069,098 +3.4

Los Angeles 58,915,100 +4.2

Paris Charles De Gaulle 58,167,062 +0.4

Dallas/Fort Worth56,905,066 +1.6

Frankfurt 53,009,221 +4.1

Denver 52,211,242 +4.1

Source: Airports Council International

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