Airport Passenger Traffic in North America Grows 0.8 Percent in 2006

More than 1.53 billion passengers (defined as the aggregate total of arriving --deplanement-- and departing --enplanement-- passengers. Transfer passengers are only counted once) traveled through North American airports in 2006, an increase of 0.8 percent, according to the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA).

Cargo also increased slightly by 0.6 percent while total operations declined by 2.3 percent.

“This increase in passengers reflects a trend that will certainly carry on in the future,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato.

“The newest data indicates what we have known for awhile: that increasing investment in airport infrastructure is vital to adding necessary capacity and upgrading facilities.”

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retained the number one worldwide ranking for passenger traffic, counting 84.8 million passengers in 2006, a 1.2 percent decrease over 2005. Atlanta was followed by Chicago O'Hare International Airport (77.0 million) and Los Angeles International Airport (61.0 million).

Memphis International Airport remained the busiest cargo airport in the world, handling nearly 3.7 million metric tons - an increase of 2.6 percent over its final 2005 numbers.

Atlanta remained as the airport with the greatest number of total operations worldwide with a yearly total of 976,447 movements, a decrease of 0.4 percent from 2005. Chicago posted a 1.4 percent decrease in operation at 958,643 movements. Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport ranked third with 699,773 operations, a decrease of 1.7 percent.

Canada's busiest airport is Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport, ranking 17th in North America for passengers (30.97 million), 15th in total cargo (505,000 metric tons) and 15th in total movements (417,921).

The ACI-NA 2006 Traffic Report contains passenger, freight/mail and aircraft operations data for 179 North American airport members. Total passengers represent the sum of passengers enplaned and deplaned in all commercial services but not passengers who travel in business or general aviation modes of transportation. Total freight/mail figures represent the sum of the total freight and mail, both loaded and unloaded, at the reporting airport. Total aircraft operations reflect the sum total of all domestic commercial, international commercial, commuter, general aviation and military operations.

FMI: www.aci-na.aero