The score for 2014: Chicago, 881,933; Atlanta, 868,359.
Hey, this is important. It’s about who’s No. 1. It’s about bragging rights.
“Chicago reclaims its place” as the “world’s busiest airport,” a O’Hare spokewoman said in an email, crediting new airline routes, newly relocated businesses and the city’s strong economy.
But Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson remains No. 1 in annual passenger traffic. Spokesman Reese McCranie said the airport is projected to top 96 million passengers for 2014, compared with O’Hare, which handled 66.7 million in 2013, which put O’Hare in fifth place globally for passengers.
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5. Denver; 582,653
6. Beijing; 567,759
Meanwhile, these new numbers appear to be throwing more fuel on the fire in the rivalry between Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson and Chicago O’Hare.
“We’ll let them hold the mantle this year,” said McCranie. “We’ll come back swinging next year, and we’ll see what happens.”
