Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport remains the world’s busiest airport, according to preliminary results from an airport industry group.
Airports Council International confirmed Hartsfield-Jackson’s own announcement earlier this year that it still has more passengers than any other airport around the globe, with 95.5 million passengers using the airport last year. ACI reported Atlanta’s passenger counts were 3.3 percent higher than in 2011.
In the No. 2 position is Beijing Capital International Airport, with 81.9 million passengers — up 4.1 percent, according to ACI’s report issued Tuesday. The top five airports are rounded out by London Heathrow, Tokyo Haneda and Chicago O’Hare.
O’Hare, the second busiest airport in the United States, had 66.6 million passengers in 2012, down 0.1 percent, ACI reported.
The passenger volume at Atlanta’s airport is driven by Delta’s mega-hub at Hartsfield-Jackson, where millions of passengers have flight connections. Also driving traffic has been the hub operated by AirTran Airways, which has been acquired by Southwest Airlines.
When it comes to air cargo traffic, Hong Kong was the world’s busiest airport, topping Memphis, which occupied the No. 2 position. Hartsfield-Jackson did not break the top 30 for cargo traffic.
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