Passenger volume at airport approaches pre-Sept. 11 highs

ATLANTA - About 79.1 million passengers used Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last year, bringing numbers close to pre-Sept. 11 highs, officials said.<br> <br> In the peak year of 2000, 80.2 million people used the airport, but that figure dropped to 75.9 million in 2001, following the terrorist attacks. The number rose slightly in 2002 to 76.8 million.<br> <br> The total for 2003 was a 2.9 percent increase from the previous year, officials said.<br> <br> &#34;Hartsfield-Jackson&#39;s year-end data demonstrates that the airport is quickly approaching pre-Sept. 11 activity,&#34; said airport General Manager Ben DeCosta, noting that December&#39;s passenger count of 6.77 million passengers was the highest ever for the month.<br> <br> Passenger volume figures include both passengers departing or arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson, as well as those making flight connections and stopovers.<br> <br> Hartsfield-Jackson has been called the world&#39;s busiest airport for several years, although Chicago&#39;s O&#39;Hare International has more aircraft operations.