Passenger numbers on target for record year
By John Kennedy
                                           
Passenger numbers have increased at Hartsfield-Jackson and are on pace to break the record set three years ago.

Passenger traffic in the first six months of 2011 increased by 3.72 percent — from 43,407,647 to 45,022,375 passengers — compared with the same period in 2010. International passengers increased by 11.02 percent — from 4,505,697 to 5,002,368.

“Our passenger numbers reflect the strong growth we have been experiencing at Hartsfield-Jackson over the past year or more,” Aviation General Manager Louis Miller said. “Passenger counts are currently higher than the levels seen in 2008, which was a record year for the Airport.”

Aircraft operations (landings and takeoffs) decreased by 2.76 percent during this six-month period — from 470,739 to 457,724 operations — with smaller regional aircraft accounting for most of this decrease. International operations increased by 11.88 percent.

Total air cargo increased by 3.16 percent — from 318,869 to 328,930 metric tons — during this period, with international air cargo increasing by
1.98 percent.

To view the full traffic report, please go to www.atlanta-airport.com/Airport/ATL/operation_statistics.aspx.