by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:08 PM ET, Tue December 29, 2015
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport made history Sunday when it became the first airport in the world to serve more than 100 million passengers in a single year.
In an official statement from Atlanta's Department of Aviation, Delta Air Lines Flight 1256 landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport Sunday morning with 35-year-old industrial construction worker Larry Kendrick - the facility's 100 millionth passenger in 2015 - onboard.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed released a statement, saying, "Today, we are making aviation history. As we move into 2016, it is our commitment to maintain our position as the world's most traveled airport, the most efficient, and soon we will start competing to be the most sustainable."
To celebrate being the 100 millionth passenger in a year, Kendrick was awarded a 2015 Nissan Altima, two Delta One round-trip tickets good for any destination in the world, a $500 gift card and a set of wireless headphones.
Kendrick spoke to the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport's official website about being the 100 millionth passenger, his new car and his open-ended flight tickets:
"I'm happy I could be part of it. I'm still surprised. I've flown in and out of Atlanta quite often, and I enjoy it. My past two vehicles have been Nissans, I like them … I've seen a lot of the United States, so Australia is definitely in the mix. Dubai does sound pretty good, too. I don't know - it's up in the air."
The airport determined its 100 millionth passenger with an algorithm based on a combination of actual passenger numbers and projected passenger numbers. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport officials credit the success to Atlanta as a city and a partnership with Delta for the increase in traffic.
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