Ruth Haines
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world's busiest airport, serving over 100 million passengers annually. The airport is divided into two main areas: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is further split into Terminal South (used by Delta Airlines) and Terminal North (used by other airlines). There are several ways to travel between the domestic and international terminals, including the Plane Train, an underground automated people mover that connects the terminals and all seven concourses. The Plane Train is widely regarded as the quickest and most popular way to get around the airport, with a train arriving every two minutes. Another option is the presecurity shuttle service, which takes approximately 12 minutes. However, the shuttle service has received numerous complaints for being slow, infrequent, and overcrowded. For those who prefer to walk, there is a pedestrian walkway that runs parallel to the Plane Train, offering a scenic route between the terminals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of terminals | 2 (Domestic and International) |
| Number of concourses | 7 |
| Transport between terminals and concourses | Plane Train, SkyTrain, Shuttle service, Walking |
| Shuttle service travel time | 12 minutes |
| Plane Train travel time | Under 5 minutes |
| Plane Train frequency | Every 2 minutes |
| Plane Train location | Level 0 |
| SkyTrain travel time | N/A |
| SkyTrain frequency | N/A |
| SkyTrain location | N/A |
| Shuttle service frequency | Sporadic |
| Walking time | 20-30 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
The Plane Train connects the Domestic and International Terminals
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world's busiest airport, with over 108 million passengers transported in 2024. The airport is divided into two main areas: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is further divided into the Domestic Terminal South (occupied by Delta Air Lines) and the Domestic Terminal North (used by other domestic airlines).
The Plane Train is an underground automated people mover (APM) that connects the Domestic and International Terminals at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It is located on Level 0 and runs a 3-mile loop between the two terminals, stopping at Concourses T, A, B, C, D, and E. The train operates 24/7, arriving every 2 minutes, and can get you from one end of the airport to the other in under 15 minutes. It is praised for its incredible efficiency, but it can get extremely crowded during peak hours.
In addition to the Plane Train, travellers can also use the pedestrian walkway that runs parallel to it. This option is ideal for those who prefer to walk or when the train is too full. It is a long but flat walk, with moving walkways along much of the route. Walking from one end of the airport to the other can take about 20-30 minutes.
There is also a presecurity shuttle service that connects the domestic and international terminals, taking approximately 12 minutes. However, this shuttle has been described as slow, infrequent, and often overcrowded.
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The SkyTrain offers free transport to the Domestic Terminal
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is divided into two main areas: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal, also known as Concourse T and Concourse F, respectively. The Domestic Terminal is on the western side of the airport and is further separated into north and south by an atrium.
The SkyTrain offers free transportation between the Domestic Terminal, the Rental Car Center, and the hotel area. The ride takes about 5 minutes and runs 24 hours a day. The Plane Train, located on Level 0, is an automated underground train that runs a 3-mile loop between the Domestic Terminal (baggage claim area) and Concourse F (International Terminal). It stops at Concourses T, A, B, C, D, and E, operates 24/7, and arrives every 2 minutes. The complete end-to-end journey takes less than 15 minutes, making it an efficient airport transport mode.
The Plane Train is an underground automated system running 24/7, connecting all seven concourses with the Domestic and International Terminals in under 5 minutes. The airport shuttle service also connects the domestic and international terminals, taking approximately 12 minutes. The shuttle service is the subject of numerous complaints, described as slow, infrequent, and prone to airport traffic.
Walking between concourses is also possible via the mall, which features moving sidewalks and art exhibits. Walking from Concourse A to Concourse F takes approximately 35 minutes.
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The presecurity shuttle service links the two terminals
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is a large and extremely busy airport, transporting over 108 million passengers in 2024. It has two terminals: the Domestic Terminal (further divided into North and South) and the International Terminal. The presecurity shuttle service links the two terminals, taking approximately 12 minutes.
If you're arriving from the MARTA station or from other entry points on the western side of the Domestic Terminal, you need to exit baggage claim via doors W1 or W2. From there, follow the signs to ground transportation, where you can pick up the shuttle bus to the International Terminal. If you're travelling in the opposite direction, you can pick up the shuttle bus from the arrivals level outside doors A1 and A2 of the International Terminal.
The shuttle service is criticised by some travellers for being slow, infrequent, and often full, requiring travellers to wait for the next one. It is also prone to airport traffic. However, it is a good option for those who don't want to pass through security.
As an alternative to the shuttle, you can take the Plane Train, an automated underground train that runs a 3-mile loop between the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. It operates 24/7, arrives every 2 minutes, and can get you from one end of the airport to the other in under 15 minutes.
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Walk between the concourses via the mall
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is a large, extremely busy airport with two terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. The Domestic Terminal is on the western side of the airport and is further divided into north and south by an atrium.
Walking between concourses is possible via the mall, which is located on the same level as the Plane Train (Level 0). The mall features moving sidewalks and art exhibits, including bird and frog sounds between Concourses A and B. Walking from Concourse A to F takes approximately 35 minutes.
If you require a more time-efficient method of transportation, the Plane Train offers an automated underground train service that runs 24/7. The train operates on a 3-mile loop, connecting the Domestic Terminal (baggage reclaim) and Concourse F (International Terminal). It stops at Concourses T, A, B, C, D, and E, with trains arriving every 2 minutes. The Plane Train is accessible via escalators or elevators located on Level 0.
Another option for traveling between the Domestic and International Terminals is the airport shuttle service, which operates without requiring passengers to pass through security. However, the shuttle service has been described as slow, infrequent, and prone to airport traffic.
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The Plane Train is praised for its efficiency
The Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is an automated people mover system connecting all of its terminals and concourses. Built by Westinghouse Electric Corporation, the system is the world's most heavily travelled airport people mover, carrying more than 250,000 passengers each day. The Plane Train operates in the secure area of the airport, connecting the two landside terminals with its seven airside concourses. It has eight stations: one at each of Concourses A, B, C, D, E, and F (International Terminal), and two in the Domestic Terminal—one at Concourse T, which is also a domestic concourse.
The Plane Train began operations in 1980 with 17 Innovia CX100 vehicles, and the airport has since expanded its fleet to 59 cars. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport Transportation System Director Kenneth Williams has emphasised the train's efficiency in safely and quickly transporting customers to and from concourses. During peak hours, there are 44 cars on the rail system, totalling 11 trains, and the airport is working to reduce wait times by increasing the number of trains.
The Plane Train is also designed to be energy-efficient and sustainable, meeting the evolving needs of passengers and the aviation industry. The airport has unveiled modernised train cars, the Innovia 300R models, which are expected to increase transport capacity and reduce passenger wait times. The newer trains offer both driverless operation and manual override, providing improved technology, flexibility, and safety for the millions of passengers travelling through Atlanta Airport each year.
In addition to the Plane Train, travellers can use the SkyTrain for free transportation between the Domestic Terminal, Rental Car Centre, and hotel area. The ride takes about 5 minutes and operates 24 hours a day.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few transport options to get between the domestic and international terminals at Atlanta Airport. The Plane Train is an underground train that connects all seven concourses and the domestic and international terminals. It is described as efficient, arriving every two minutes and taking under 15 minutes to get from one end of the airport to the other. Alternatively, you can take the SkyTrain, a free elevated train that runs 24/7 from the Domestic Terminal. There is also a shuttle service that runs between the terminals, but it is described as slow, infrequent, and often overcrowded.
If you are arriving at the International Terminal and need to get to the Domestic Terminal, you cannot use the Plane Train. You must take the shuttle service. The Plane Train can be used to get from the Domestic Terminal to the International Terminal.
Walking between the domestic and international terminals at Atlanta Airport takes approximately 20-30 minutes. There is a pedestrian walkway that runs parallel to the Plane Train.
The International Terminal at Atlanta Airport is accessible from Interstate 75 at Exit 239.
