ATL Nears 94 Million Passengers in 2022, Expects to Maintain World’s Busiest Status

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) marked a successful 2022 with increased passenger volume, concessions revenue, and construction activity. Additionally, the Airport continued the legacy of providing business opportunities for minority, female, and small business firms. 

"Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the City's crown jewel and the economic engine for the Southeast," said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. "As the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson connects our residents to the world, and brings a world of opportunities to our doorstep. As we continue to invest in the Airport’s future, we will make sure it continues to provide the best service to our residents, visitors and businesses, all while creating good-paying jobs for our diverse workforce.”

"ATL's mission is to serve as one team, delivering excellence while connecting our community to the world," said ATL General Manager Balram "B" Bheodari. "In 2022, we accomplished that by approaching pre-pandemic passenger numbers, expanding routes to new cities, and preparing ATL for the decades ahead."    

Approaching 2019's record-setting numbers, ATL and its partners hosted 93,699,630 passengers, a 24% increase over 2021. Airports Council International will not release its final tally of passenger totals until later this year, but a preliminary review of the figures projects ATL as the world’s busiest airport in 2022. Additionally, ATL operated 724,145 flight operations, a 2.3% increase over 2021. In 2021 cargo totals were boosted by the need for pandemic-related medical supplies, dropping 6.3% in 2022 to 688,614 metric tons. New passenger international air service grew in 2022 with the addition of five destinations to Central and South America, one to Africa, four to the Caribbean, one to Canada, and two to Europe. 

Commercial operations at Hartsfield-Jackson reflected a steady return to pre-pandemic levels. In 2022, ATL’s food, beverage, retail and service gross revenues totaled $585,122,170. The Airport's 11 rental car operators reported $508,859,901 in gross sales for 2022, with $50,873,202 in rent revenue directed to the Airport. In addition, ATL saw 2,428,554 rideshare (Uber, Lyft) pickups at the Airport in 2022 and 395,985 taxi pickups over the same period. 

ATL completed five substantial projects in 2022: Fire Station 32, Runway 9L End-Around Taxiway, T-North Gate Expansion, a Deicing Complex, and Ramp 19 Improvement. The ATLNext ongoing capital improvement program will invest $11.5 billion in construction projects over the next 20 years. The widening of Concourse D and the expansion of the Airport's parking decks – expected to be completed by the end of the decade – top the list of infrastructure improvements. A substantial cargo expansion project is underway, providing future growth opportunities. Airport leaders will continue to ensure work on those projects is available to all qualified firms, including minority, female and small businesses.