In 2007 ATL had 994,466 flight operations. In 2006 we had 976,447 operations. This is an increase of 1.8% and is the third year in a row that ATL has had the most aircraft operations of any airport. ATL also has been the world's busiest in terms of passenger volume for several years. About 86 million passengers passed through ATL in 2007. We are the busiest airport in the world.
At 398' Atlanta Tower is the tallest in the U.S. We are the busiest and the tallest, but we are short staffed. In fiscal year 2007 the FAA spent $1,015,000.00 on overtime at ATL.
A record number of air traffic controller retirements nation-wide and total attrition in fiscal year 2007, fueled by outrage over the lack of a contract, soared past Federal Aviation Administration projections by 30 percent and has left the country with a 15-year low in the number of fully certified controllers.