( CNN ) Look out . The bragging war between two of the world 's busiest airports just got more intense . For the first time in a decade , Chicago 's O'Hare topped Atlanta 's Hartsfield-Jackson in total flights by more than 13,000 , according to new stats from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration . The score for 2014 : Chicago , 881,933 ; Atlanta , 868,359 . Hey , this is important . It 's about who 's No . 1 . It 's about bragging rights . `` Chicago reclaims its place '' as the `` world 's busiest airport , '' Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement Thursday , crediting new airline routes , newly relocated businesses and the city 's strong economy . But Atlanta 's Hartsfield-Jackson remains No . 1 in annual passenger traffic . Spokesman Reese McCranie said the airport is projected to top 96 million passengers for 2014 , compared with O'Hare , which handled 66.7 million in 2013 . That put O'Hare in fifth place globally for passengers . `` With our friends in Chicago , it 's always a little bit of friendly rivalry , '' McCranie said . `` Our operations folks are probably getting ribbed by their operations folks for edging us out . But you know , we 're all one aviation system , so when O'Hare does well , other airports -- including ours -- do well . '' ATL24 : A day in the life of the world 's busiest airport . So really , which airport is the busiest ? Which is more challenging for an airport ? Handling more airplanes -- or more passengers ? Each has its own contributing factors : . - O'Hare has eight runways . Atlanta , five . - Atlanta tends to have more sunshine than Chicago , which may cut weather delays and cancellations . - O'Hare hosts many regional airlines , but McCranie said Atlanta carriers are adding more airliners with higher passenger capacity . `` So when you have that , of course that means you do n't have as many takeoffs and landings , '' McCranie said . Let 's stop for a minute and remind ourselves that these two airports are called upon to perform something that 's really quite amazing . With incredible attention to safety , they serve nearly a million flights a year and tens of millions of passengers . Large international airports are among the world 's most complicated facilities , with constantly moving components that require detailed attention . Being the busiest -- on any level -- is a true badge of honor . Emanuel said the victory comes from Chicago being `` the top metro area for foreign direct investment '' and its `` record growth in international tourism . '' So , how do you define the world 's `` busiest '' airport ? What 's the definition of `` busy ? '' Webster 's makes it pretty simple : `` actively doing something . '' From a traveling consumer perspective , traditionally , passenger traffic has been the key stat when talking about the `` busiest '' airports . That 's because the FAA takeoff and landing stats include military and other noncommercial flights . For example , an airport that includes a hub for a cargo delivery outfit -- such as UPS Airlines in Louisville , Kentucky -- is going to have more takeoffs and landings that do n't include passengers . Although 2014 global stats are pending , year-to-date figures suggest that Atlanta will still be the busiest airport in the world based on passenger traffic , according to Airports Council International . In 2013 , ACI said Beijing ranked No . 2 in passengers , with 83.7 million . London 's Heathrow ranked No . 3 in 2013 , but ACI says Dubai is poised to surpass Heathrow in international passengers in 2014 . The rising passenger traffic at Dubai 's airport shows how aviation 's `` nucleus '' has moved eastward in the past decade , resulting in double-digit growth rates , said Dr. Rafael Echevarne , ACI economics director . Airlines , he said , are scheduling more fights out of Dubai that use wide-body , long-haul planes that carry more passengers . As for airport takeoffs and landings in 2013 , it ranks globally like this ( after Atlanta and Chicago ) : . 3 . Los Angeles ; 696,443 . 4 . Dallas-Fort Worth ; 678,059 . 5 . Denver ; 582,653 . 6 . Beijing ; 567,759 . Meanwhile , these new numbers appear to be throwing more fuel on the fire in the rivalry between Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson and Chicago O'Hare . `` We 'll let them hold the mantle this year , '' said McCranie . `` We 'll come back swinging next year , and we 'll see what happens . ''
Chicago - Midway International Airport ` ` world 's busiest airport '' The stats show O'Hare tops Atlanta Hartsfield - Jackson as No . 1 in takeoffs and landings . Does that make O'Hare the ` ` world 's busiest airport ? '' Depends on whom you ask . Atlanta Hartsfield - Jackson handles more yearly passengers than any other airport , worldwide .