Atlanta still boasts busiest passenger airport, cargo up 17pc

ATLANTA's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport showed growth in cargo and passenger volumes, keeping its title as the world's busiest passenger airport for the 13th consecutive year, and fifth ranking by operations.

Cargo volume was up 17.05 per cent from 563,139 metric tons year previous to 659,129 metric tons in 2010. Of this total 385,136 metric tons were international air cargo, a 24.22 per cent increase year on year.

Despite an operations decline on last year by 2.07 per cent, Atlanta still boasted 950,119 landings and take offs in 2010. Passenger numbers rose by 3.47 per cent to 9.14 million, slightly less than its 2008 record high.

"We anticipate further growth in 2011 as we focus our energies on being the global leader in airport efficiency and customer service excellence," said its aviation manager Louis Miller.

The airport is the headquarters for Delta Air Lines, the fifth largest airline in the world, and serves as a primary hub for AirTran Airways and Delta's Connection partner Atlantic Southeast Airlines.