Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson named most efficient airport in the world

ATLANTA — Hartsfield-Jackson may be one of the busiest airports in the world, but it’s also very efficient.

For the 18th consecutive year, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been recognized as the most efficient airport in the world as determined by the Air Transport Research Society.

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ATRS determines the award by measuring and comparing the operational and management efficiency, cost competitiveness, and financial performances for more than 200 airports worldwide. The ATRS Airport Benchmarking Task Force includes leading professors and researchers from around the world.

“With unprecedented challenges impacting travel throughout the world, 2020 was an unprecedented year,” said Airport General Manager Balram “B” Bheodari. “ATL’s No. 1 priority is providing a safe and efficient experience for the traveling public, so receive the society’s 2021 top efficiency award is truly a distinguished honor.”

As airports worldwide embark on their recovery journey from the dramatic downturn caused by COVID-19, efficiency is particularly of vital importance.

Earlier this year, the airport was dethroned as the world’s busiest.

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Guangzhou Bai Yun International Airport in southeast China bumped the Atlanta airport to second place for the distinction awarded by the Airports Council International.

Because of the pandemic, air travel at Hartsfield-Jackson dropped more than 61% and served just 43 million passengers compared to 110 million in 2019.

In 2015, Hartsfield-Jackson became the first airport in the world to have more than 100 million passengers in one calendar year.

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