Atlanta forming committee to try to save Hartsfield-Jackson's 'world's busiest airport' title (Sandy Springs: 2015, home)

[Airforceguy]

Atlanta is forming a committee of top business executives to study how Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport can hold onto its title of being the world's busiest airport.
The Atlanta airport is at risk of losing that title to Beijing Capital International Airport.
"This is the one that keeps me up nights, being the world's busiest passenger airport," Hartsfield-Jackson General Manager Miguel Southwell said Thursday while speaking to the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta.

Atlanta forming committee to try to save Hartsfield-Jackson's 'world's busiest airport' title - Atlanta Business Chronicle

[Gulch]

Did I just read The Onion?

[jsvh]

Yeah, we don't need a committee on this. Atlanta will lose it eventually. But we don't need to be the absolute busiest. Just as long as we stay a major international hub.

[sedimenjerry]

Originally Posted by Gulch

Did I just read The Onion?

My thoughts too! I mean really what a waste, I love the title but let it go! Focus on making the airport better

[alco89]

Good grief!

[afdinatl]

I cry myself to sleep every night worrying about this

[AtlantaIsHot]

There are several incorrect things in that article. Firstly, China's air travel is slowing as it's economy slows. Beijing's airport didn't grow much last year in the January-September period. Second, Tokyo wasn't third as of September. Heathrow was third. The reduction of Southwest's activity reduced Hartsfield's passengers didn't it?

They are worried about Beijing's airport but the Jan.-Sept. figures showed it was not growing any faster than Hartsfield (1.4% and 1.5%). Hartsfield will probably lose it eventually as someone builds some huge airport somewhere. Dubai has been the fastest grower for years now. Holding the "busiest" title is impressive, but not necessary for growth and prosperity. LA never had the busiest airport. When you are #1, there is only one place to go... Down.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by AtlantaIsHot

There are several incorrect things in that article. Firstly, China's air travel is slowing as it's economy slows. Beijing's airport didn't grow much last year in the January-September period. Second, Tokyo wasn't third as of September. Heathrow was third. The reduction of Southwest's activity reduced Hartsfield's passengers didn't it?

They are worried about Beijing's airport but the Jan.-Sept. figures showed it was not growing any faster than Hartsfield (1.4% and 1.5%). Hartsfield will probably lose it eventually as someone builds some huge airport somewhere. Dubai has been the fastest grower for years now. Holding the "busiest" title is impressive, but not necessary for growth and prosperity. LA never had the busiest airport. When you are #1, there is only one place to go... Down.

These are some excellent points.

Chicago has also held (and continues to hold) some of the international titles that Atlanta has held in recent years.

Just like Atlanta is currently recognized as being the home of the world's busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, Chicago was recognized as the home of the world's busiest airport, both in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft movements (takeoffs and landings).

Chicago was recognized as being the home of the world's busiest airport for many decades, first at Chicago Midway Airport then at the much larger Chicago O'Hare Airport.

Atlanta took the honor of being the sole home of the world's busiest airport away from Chicago around about 1998 when Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson tied Chicago's O'Hare in passenger traffic counts.

Though, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport was still recognized as the world's busiest airport in terms of aircraft movements as of 2014.

Also, just like Atlanta was recognized as the fastest-growing human settlement during the last two decades of the 20th Century and the first decade of the 21st Century, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chicago held the title of the world's fastest-growing human settlement when it was the fastest-growing metropolitan area on the planet.

Being home to a major airport that is recognized as the busiest airport on the planet by any metric can be a good selling point to the international business community.

But what is much better than having a title of 'world's fastest-growing human settlement' and/or 'world's busiest airport' is if a community is recognized as having some of the best quality-of-life on the planet for its residents.

With its unacceptably high levels of gun violence, youth violence and gang violence, both currently and historically, Chicago should serve as a cautionary tale for Atlanta that having the titles of 'world's fastest-growing human settlement' and 'world's busiest airport' mean very little if enhancing and improving the quality-of-life of a large major metro area's residents is not a top priority.

[atler8]

My thoughts exactly, Born 2 Roll & AtlantaIshot!

[1lifealex]

Chicago just took back the world's busiest airport title for aircraft movement from Atlanta last year, Atlanta had both titles for years