WASHINGTON --- The Airports Council International-North America today announced that more than 1.34 billion passengers traveled the skies in 2003. Both passenger traffic and cargo grew slightly by 0.6 percent and 0.9 percent respectively, while total operations decreased 2.4 percent.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport retained the number one worldwide ranking for passenger traffic, counting 79.1 million passengers in 2003, an increase of 2.9 percent over 2002. Atlanta was followed by Chicago O’Hare International Airport (69.5 million) and Los Angeles International Airport (55.0 million). London Heathrow was the busiest airport outside of North America (63.5 million).
Memphis International Airport remained the busiest cargo airport in the world, handling over 3.4 million metric tons, which was no change over its final 2002 numbers. However, 80 percent of the world’s top 10 cargo airports registered increases in cargo, according to ACI-World Headquarters, the producers of the Airport Traffic Report.
Chicago O’Hare remained in the highest position in total operations worldwide with a yearly total of 928,691 movements. Atlanta posted a 2.4 percent increase in operation at 911,723 movements. Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport ranked third with 765,296 operations with virtually no change.
Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport was Canada’s busiest airport in two of the three categories, ranking 17th in North America for passengers (24.7 million) and 24th in total movements (370,996). Vancouver International Airport ranked 31st in cargo (215,839 metric tons).
“North American passengers are returning to the skies and many air carriers continue to add flights in many markets across the U.S. and Canada. These overall trends, while headed in the right direction, mask very different realities at many airports,” said ACI-NA president David Z. Plavin.
“Some are already above 2000 traffic levels, dealing with airside and terminal congestion and focusing on measures to improve passenger services. Other airports and communities, however, have felt the sting of capacity reductions in their markets and are putting capacity projects on hold and are focusing more than ever on attracting additional air service,” he added.
“To meet the challenges of the upcoming travel season at our airports, it is crucial that the government focus on meeting its responsibility to provide adequate security staffing to make the passenger’s experience the best it can be,” Plavin said. “Airports, airlines and the federal government working together can make this be a great summer for the aviation industry.”
In reviewing the trend in airport traffic over the period between 1996 through 2003, the average annual growth rate for passenger traffic is 0.7 percent and cargo at 1.6 percent. Aircraft operations over the period have been moderately declining at 0.4 percent average annual growth rate.
The ACI-NA Traffic Report contains passenger, freight/mail and aircraft operations data for 187 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.
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ACI-NA Announces 1.34 Billion Passengers Travel the Skies in 2003
