Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has consistently ranked among the world's busiest airports (by passenger numbers) for many years. While perhaps not an obvious choice, the airport's strategic location and role as the main hub for one of the world's largest airlines combine to make it the busiest in the world.
The busiest airport in the world
According to data from Airports Council (ACI), Atlanta topped the list for the highest passenger volume, with just under 76 million passengers in 2021. This is far from a new development, as, from 1998 to 2019, the facility topped the charts for this metric every single year. 2020 was a notable exception, but why was this so?
The reason behind the switch was, of course, the widespread impacts of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. These hit the airline industry hard in 2020, playing havoc with such rankings. As a result, Atlanta ended up dropping to second place, with China's Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) coming out on top.
Atlanta has a population (according to the US Census Bureau) of just under 500,000. This makes it only the 38th largest city in the United States and obviously far behind many other global cities. However, the metropolitan area houses well over six million people, one of the key reasons the airport does so well.
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A major hub airport for Delta Air Lines
A key reason for Atlanta's success and popularity is the significant presence of Delta Air Lines at the airport. The US legacy carrier and SkyTeam founding member uses Atlanta as one of its main hubs. Furthermore, its corporate headquarters are also located in the city, which is the most populous in the state of Georgia.
Since the 1980s, the largest US airlines have embarked, to a certain extent, on a hub and spoke strategy. Each of American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines has grown around multiple hub locations. These networks have been fueled by mergers and acquisitions over the years, also leading to fleet growth.
While the largest cities are important destinations for the airlines, their airports do not work well as hubs. There is high demand from all airlines, both domestic and international, restricting slot availability and pushing up prices. As such, it makes sense that airlines focus on driving connecting traffic through cheaper cities.
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Back in November 2020, Simple Flying took a detailed look at all main US airline hubs. American Airlines' largest is Dallas Forth Worth, but it operates from ten hubs in total. Meanwhile, United Airlines has a major hub at Chicago O'Hare, and several others throughout US territory, even stretching as far afield as Guam.
As for Atlanta, the city has always been the main base for Delta. The airline has its origins in 1925 with Georgia-based Huff Daland Dusters, opening its headquarters in Atlanta in 1941. It now operates several hubs, with Minneapolis- St Paul Aiport becoming a major one for the airline's merger with Northwest Airlines.
One airport for Atlanta
Being the main hub for a huge global airline is a major factor, but the airport's location also helps boost passenger numbers. It occupies a strategic eastern point in the United States, acting as a major entry point for international traffic. According to the airport, it is located within a two-hour flight of 80% of the US population.
The facility retains a very populous catchment area, and is the only major airport serving the city and surrounding regions. Contrast that, for example, with New York's multiple airports or the several options in California. American and United's main hubs in Dallas and Chicago also have multiple airports nearby.
The full rundown
As established, Atlanta was the world's busiest airport in 2021, having processed more than 75.7 million passengers. But what does the rest of the top 10 look like? As it happens, US facilities dominate the rankings, with Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Chicago O'Hare, and Los Angeles International completing the top five.
Charlotte-Douglas and Orlando International occupy sixth and seventh on the list, with 2020's number one Guangzhou having dropped to eighth. Another Chinese airport, Chengdu, dropped from third to 9th between 2020 and 2021. Meanwhile, Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport rounds out the top 10.
What do you make of Atlanta's role as the busiest airport globally? Have you ever used the facility yourself? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!