DFW A Distant Third

The Associated Press reports for the third year in a row, according to preliminary FAA data for 2007, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport retained its title as the nation's busiest airport, measured by number of flights. Hartsfield saw 994,466 takeoffs and landings in 2007, up 1.8 percent from last year.

O'Hare saw 935,000 operations, down 2.4 percent from 2006. Dallas-Fort Worth International was a distant third, with 686,711.

Atlanta airport officials said Hartsfield-Jackson's increase came from growing demand for air travel in the metro Atlanta area, and successful growth strategies by Delta Air Lines and AirTran Airways, which both have hubs in Atlanta.

"AirTran's domestic growth strategy is working as is Delta's international strategy, which should help us remain a prominent connecting point," said ATL spokesman Herschel Grangent.

Atlanta added a fifth runway last year. Chicago O'Hare faces what's expected to be a long NIMBY battle to expand.

FMI: www.atlanta-airport.com, www.ohare.com, www.dfwairport.com