Hartsfield-Jackson welcomes 100 millionth passenger

ATLANTA — Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport has hit a milestone never before reached by any airport in the world: 100 million passengers in a year.

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The 100 millionth passenger passed through the Atlanta airport on Sunday, Hartsfield-Jackson General Manager Miguel Southwell said.

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“For the first time in history, an airport will have 100 million passengers. That’s something only Atlanta can claim,” Southwell said. The airport has hired accounting firm KPMG to “help validate this milestone,” he said.

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The world’s busiest airport plans to celebrate that 100 millionth passenger with a Nissan Altima car, 2 Delta round trip plane tickets to anywhere around the world and a $500 giftcard.

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Last year, as flight counts decreased as airlines replace smaller planes with larger ones to carry more passengers, Chicago O’Hare surpassed Atlanta as the airport with the most flights, while Atlanta still had the most passengers in the world.

But this year, Atlanta has had an increase in flight counts, along with a 5 percent increase in passengers.

For the year through October, Chicago O’Hare reports it has handled 735,742 flights and nearly 64.6 million passengers. In the same time period, Atlanta reports it has handled 737,463 flights and nearly 84.8 million passengers.

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With record crowds streaming through Hartsfield-Jackson this holiday, the airport is adding more live music and roving carolers in the airport.

Southwell said the airport will also add more entertainment in the terminal throughout the year.

WSBTV