Jazmin Li
Atlanta is home to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, which typically handles about 270,000 passengers per day. The Super Bowl is expected to bring an additional influx of tens of thousands of visitors, with about 125,000 extra passengers filtering in and out of the airport. Cobb County Airport, a reliever airport for Hartsfield-Jackson, is also expecting up to seven times the normal corporate traffic, with 800 corporate flights during the Super Bowl weekend. Despite the government shutdown causing some concerns about safety plans and efficiency, Atlanta's airports are preparing to accommodate the surge in traffic, with extended hours and additional security measures in place.
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What You'll Learn
Cobb County Airport expects seven times the corporate traffic
Cobb County Airport is expecting seven times the normal amount of corporate traffic during the days leading up to the Super Bowl. This equates to about 800 corporate flights going in and out of the airport starting on the Thursday before the Super Bowl, compared to the usual 120 flights it would normally see during the same period. This is an amount of air traffic that the airport has never dealt with before, not even when Atlanta hosted the Super Bowl in 2000 or 1994.
The airport has had to find room for a lot more planes, with 200 additional parking spaces needed for the extra airplanes that will be staying for the four-day Super Bowl weekend. The airport will also be extending its hours to accommodate the extra traffic, running 24 hours a day on Super Bowl Sunday.
Cobb County International Airport-McCollum Field is owned by the Cobb County Government and is located in Kennesaw, just 20 miles northwest of Atlanta’s business district. It is designated as a general aviation reliever airport for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. The airport has the longest dedicated general aviation runway in the metro-Atlanta area, making it an ideal destination for super-midsize and larger corporate and VIP aircraft.
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services has been taking priority parking reservations for Super Bowl LIII and has been planning for a year for the big event to ensure a memorable experience for the thousands of VIP passengers and crew members who will pass through.
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The airport will extend its hours
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport, handling 270,000 passengers per day. This number is expected to surge to about 400,000 during the Super Bowl, with 125,000 extra passengers filtering in and out before and after the game, and 110,000 expected to leave the day after.
The Atlanta airport will extend its hours to accommodate the extra traffic. Typically, the airport operates from 7 am to 11 pm. However, it will likely run 24 hours on Super Bowl Sunday.
Cobb County International Airport, located 25 miles from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, is also preparing for a rush of visitors. The airport is expecting seven times the normal corporate traffic, with 800 corporate flights during the four-day Super Bowl weekend compared to the usual 120 flights. This will require an additional 200 parking spaces for the extra airplanes.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had committed additional resources to support the increased operations at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport before the government shutdown. This included additional TSA officers, overtime hours, and K-9 teams. However, the shutdown has impacted safety plans and meetings for air traffic planning, with 800,000 federal workers, including TSA agents and air traffic controllers, going without pay. This could potentially hamper operations and cause delays for fans travelling to and from the Super Bowl.
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TSA committed additional resources
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport, handling about 270,000 passengers per day. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the federal agency responsible for airport security screening, committed additional resources to handle the additional traffic brought on by the Super Bowl. This included additional TSA officers, overtime hours, and K-9 teams. The TSA typically deals with high volumes of people coming and going, and the additional resources were expected to support the increased operations during the Super Bowl.
Despite the government shutdown, which resulted in 800,000 federal workers, including TSA agents, going unpaid, the TSA remained committed to providing additional resources. The shutdown did, however, impact safety planning meetings, causing concern among travellers. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association also expressed worry about the situation, with one member stating that the stress of the job was intensified by the uncertainty of the situation.
The Super Bowl was expected to bring about 125,000 extra passengers to the airport, with around 110,000 departing the day after the game. Cobb County Airport, located just 25 miles from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, also anticipated a significant increase in corporate traffic, with nearly seven times the usual number of corporate flights. This posed a challenge, as they had to accommodate many more planes than usual.
To manage the influx of passengers and flights, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport extended its hours, operating 24 hours on Super Bowl Sunday. Cobb County Airport also prepared by creating additional parking spaces for the extra aircraft. These measures, along with the TSA's commitment of additional resources, aimed to ensure a smooth travel experience for the thousands of Super Bowl attendees passing through Atlanta's airports.
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The government shutdown impacted safety plans
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports, handling about 270,000 passengers per day. During the Super Bowl, the airport was expected to receive seven times the usual corporate traffic, with about 800 corporate flights going in and out. This would be a massive influx of traffic, and preparations were well underway to handle this.
However, the partial U.S. government shutdown impacted safety plans and operations at the airport. The shutdown, which was due to a political dispute over funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, left 800,000 federal workers without pay, including TSA agents and air traffic controllers. Despite this, the Atlanta airport spokesperson said they would be ready to manage the additional visitors for the Super Bowl.
Before the shutdown, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had committed additional resources for the Super Bowl. TSA officers were expected to support the increased operations, and additional contract security was planned for the 10-day operational period.
The City of Atlanta Department of Aviation also stated that they were monitoring the situation and prepared to address any operational challenges caused by the shutdown. They planned to collaborate with partners to ensure that federal employees received the necessary resources to maintain their well-being.
The government shutdown had the potential to cause disruptions to the state's economic engines, including the airport, and it was anticipated that these effects could be more acute in Georgia than in other states. Nevertheless, the Atlanta airport was committed to ensuring a smooth experience for the thousands of VIP passengers and crew members expected for the Super Bowl.
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports, and it has previously demonstrated its ability to handle Super Bowl traffic. In 2019, the airport prepared for an influx of visitors for the Super Bowl, despite a government shutdown that left critical airport personnel unpaid. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provided additional resources, and the airport typically handles about 270,000 passengers a day, equating to four times the capacity of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the venue for the NFL championship game.
Cobb County Airport, a reliever airport for Hartsfield-Jackson International, also played a crucial role in managing Super Bowl traffic. Cobb Airport expected nearly seven times the normal corporate traffic during the lead-up to the Super Bowl, with about 800 corporate flights going in and out. This surge in air traffic was unprecedented, even compared to previous Super Bowls hosted in Atlanta in 2000 and 1994. Cobb Airport made preparations to accommodate the additional aircraft by finding parking spaces for 200 extra planes on their outdoor spaces.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's ability to handle heavy traffic extends beyond the Super Bowl. During the busy Fourth of July travel period, airport officials estimated that over four million people would pass through the airport. However, severe weather conditions can impact operations, as seen in June 2025 when hail storms and strong winds caused significant delays and cancellations, stranding thousands of passengers.
Despite these challenges, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's reputation as one of the world's busiest airports is well-deserved. Its efficient management of Super Bowl traffic, alongside its capacity to handle millions of passengers during peak travel periods, showcases its capability to navigate significant traffic surges effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Atlanta airport is the busiest airport in the world and can typically handle about 270,000 passengers a day. In preparation for the Super Bowl, the airport will be able to accommodate the tens of thousands of additional visitors expected.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will provide additional resources, including TSA officers, overtime hours, and K-9 teams. The airport will also have additional contract security on hand. Furthermore, the airport may extend its hours to accommodate extra traffic.
The government shutdown has disrupted planning meetings for handling the additional air traffic. However, airport officials remain confident that they will be able to manage the influx of visitors.
