The Busiest Airports in the US
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the nation's busiest in terms of flights according to government data .
The Atlanta airport logged 976,307 flights in 2006, down 0.4% from its 980,386 flights in 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Flights include takeoffs and landings.
Its rival, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, was listed second busiest, with 958,643 flights in 2006. That number was down 1.4% from the 972,246 flights it had in 2005, the FAA said.
Atlanta and Chicago have run neck-and-neck in recent years to claim the title of the nation's — and therefore, the world's — busiest airport. Atlanta already claimed to be the world's busiest airport in terms of passengers. The FAA does not maintain passenger statistics.
Two reasons for the airport's ranking: Its "capacity and efficiency." It also opened a fifth runway. Delta Air Lines Inc. has its primary hub in Atlanta.
Chicago's O'Hare has many flight restrictions which have limited its ability to land and depart aircraft . O'Hare is surrounded by neighborhoods. Chicago's other major airport, Midway Airport, had 298,547 flights in 2006, up 2.7% from the 290,756 flights it had in 2005, the federal agency said.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was ranked third, with 702,713 flights in 2006, down 2.2% from 718,207 flights in 2005, the FAA said.
Which airlines are doing the most flying?| Airlines | Share | |
| American | 14.9% | |
| Southwest | 12.2% | |
| United | 11.6% | |
| Delta | 10.9% | |
| Continental | 7.8% | |
| Northwest | 6.8% | |
| US Airways | 4.9% | |
| JetBlue | 4.1% | |
| America West | 3.4% | |
| AirTran Corporation | 2.8% | |
| Other | 20.6% | |
| Market share based on Revenue Passenger Miles November 2006 - October 2007. | ||
