Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) has issued its North American Traffic Summary of 2016, which shows a 3.8% rise in passenger traffic and 2.4% growth in cargo volumes compared to that of 2015.

The summary is based on data related to total passenger numbers, cargo traffic and aircraft operations at 227 airports across the continent.

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According to the traffic summary last year, the North American airports registered a 6% rise in international passenger service.

ACI-NA president and CEO Kevin Burke said: “This growth highlights the need for airports to continue to modernise their infrastructure in order to accommodate expanding passenger and cargo activity to ensure a modern and competitive 21st century airport system.

"This growth highlights the need for airports to continue to modernise their infrastructure in order to accommodate expanding passenger and cargo activity to ensure a modern and competitive 21st century airport system."

“As traffic volume increases, airports are forced to do more with less, which hurts every airports' ability to serve their passengers and communities. We must move quickly to address these challenges, especially as the industry prepares for continued traffic growth in the years ahead.”

Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International airport in Georgia continued to operate as the most travelled airport in the world with more than 104 million passengers travelling through its gates.

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Last year, the airport registered a 2.6% growth in passenger figures compared to that of 2015.

Posting a year-on-year rise of a significant 8%, Toronto Pearson International Airport remained the most travelled hub in Canada with a total of 44.3 million passengers travelling to and from the airport.

Also, Memphis International Airport in Tennessee, US, remained the busiest cargo airport in North America, handling approximately 4.3 million metric tonnes of freight last year.

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