Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International Airport has been ranked as America's busiest airport for the second consecutive year, after handling 976,307 flights last year.

The outlook for further growth appears good as well amid forecasts that cargo shipments at Hartsfield-Jackson will double from 780,000 tons in 1995 to more than 1.5 million tons by 2015 boosted by improvements to the airport's airfreight operations and growing trade with Asia.

Airport authorities are investing US$5 billion over a 10-year period to expand the airport, which includes the building of a fifth runway, said a report by America's Air Cargo News.

He pointed out that part of Atlanta's success is due to Delta Air Lines being Metro Atlanta's largest employer. More than 40 additional domestic and global airlines operate in Atlanta via Hartsfield-Jackson.

The airport also opened a few years back the 300,000-square-foot South Cargo Complex at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, which raised the airport's total handling capacity to more than 1.5 million square feet.

"More than 100 licensed customs brokers and 200 domestic and international freight forwarders offer services at Hartsfield-Jackson," Mr DeCosta added.