Hartsfield-Jackson to set record with 100 millionth customer of 2015

The passenger, Larry Kendrick of Biloxi, Mississippi, received a red-carpet welcome when he arrived at the airport, which celebrated the milestone of becoming the first single airport in the world that has served 100 million passengers in a calendar year.

The world’s busiest airport showed just how busy it was on Sunday when its 100 millionth passenger of 2015 walked through the concourse. Mr Kendrick was identified through a series of accounting estimates and algorithms, airport officials said. Through October, O’Hare reported 735,742 flights and 64.6 million passengers while Atlanta handled 737,463 flights and 84.8 million passengers.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution describes the scene from his arrival, writing that Kendrick “stepped off his flight wearing blue jeans… and a bemused expression as he was greeted by dark-suited dignitaries, airport and airline workers and even the drumline from Tri-Cities High School”. “Today, we are making aviation history”, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed told the crowd, according to the statement.

“I’m happy I could be part of it”, said the 35-year-old Kendrick in a statement released by the airport on Monday. “That’s something only Atlanta can claim”, Southwell said.

No airport has ever recorded that many passengers in one year, WSB-TV reports.

Hartsfield-Jackson general manager Miguel Southwell says the airport had a 5 percent increase in passenger counts this year.