Exploring Georgia: Multiple Airports, Countless Destinations

Georgia has a total of 107 public-use airports, including 98 general aviation airports and 9 commercial-aviation airports. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Georgia, and one of the busiest in the world. The airport serves 80% of the country and any major North American city within a four-hour flight radius. It is also the 10th largest air cargo hub in North America, handling about 54,000 metric tons of cargo and over 60,000 metric tons of mail. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is the second-largest airport in Georgia, serving over 1,700,000 passengers annually.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport

Georgia has 327 public and private airports, with 8 airports handling commercial flights. However, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport stands out as the world's busiest airport. Since 1998, it has consistently ranked as the airport with the highest passenger traffic globally, except in 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a dip.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also known by its IATA code ATL, is located about 10 kilometres south of Downtown Atlanta. It covers a vast area of 4,700 acres and boasts five parallel runways, including one that is 12,390 feet long, capable of accommodating the Airbus A380. The airport is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson, with Hartsfield recognised as a visionary who foresaw Atlanta's potential as an aviation hub.

The airport is a bustling centre, serving over 104.6 million passengers in 2023, the highest of any airport worldwide. It is the primary hub for Delta Air Lines, with more than 1,000 flights daily to 225 domestic and international destinations. Additionally, it serves as a base for low-cost carriers like Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Hartsfield-Jackson offers an extensive network of connections, making it a pivotal link between major US cities and European destinations.

The airport features two terminals and seven concourses, with a total of 192 gates. The Domestic Terminal is on the west side, while the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal is on the east. The terminals and concourses are conveniently connected by an underground pedestrian tunnel, the Transportation Mall, and an automated people mover, the Plane Train.

Hartsfield-Jackson also boasts the tallest Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower in the United States, standing at 398 feet. This tower was constructed in 2006 to oversee the fifth runway, which is about a mile from the main terminal area.

Beyond its functional excellence, the airport is an art lover's paradise, showcasing thousands of artworks throughout its terminals and concourses. It has a long history of commissioning and displaying exceptional art, dating back to the 1970s. Notable exhibits include "Good Trouble: A Tribute to Congressman John Lewis," honouring Atlanta's civil rights icon, and "Zimbabwe: A Tradition in Stone," a permanent exhibition of Zimbabwean sculptures.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is not just an airport; it is a vital component of Georgia's infrastructure and a significant contributor to the state's economy, generating an annual regional economic impact of over $19.8 billion.

Georgia has 107 public-use airports

Of the 107 public-use airports, 98 are general aviation airports, and nine are commercial-aviation airports. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the principal airport in Georgia and is the busiest airport in the state. It is also one of the busiest airports in the US and the world, serving as a major hub for Delta Airlines. The airport has two large terminals and dozens of gates for international and domestic flights. It is located about 10km south of Downtown Atlanta but serves as an entry point for the entire state of Georgia.

The second-largest airport in Georgia is the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, locally known as Travis Field and Chatham Field. It serves the city of Savannah and handles around 3 million passengers annually. Other major airports in Georgia include Augusta Regional Airport, Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, Columbus Metropolitan Airport, and Valdosta Regional Airport.

Georgia's system of commercial and general-aviation airports generates over $2 billion in economic activity and approximately 28,500 jobs, providing over $626 million in annual earnings. These public-use airports are vital to the state's transportation infrastructure, enabling local businesses to attract commerce from outside Georgia and facilitating economic growth.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is the state's second-busiest airport

Georgia has 107 public-use airports, 98 of which are general aviation airports and nine are commercial-aviation airports. The busiest airport in the state is Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport, which is also one of the busiest airports in the world.

The second-busiest airport in Georgia is Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, which serves over 1,700,000 passengers annually. The airport is locally known as Travis Field and Chatham Field and is about 13 km from the city of Savannah. To get to the city centre, passengers can use public transport, with services provided by Chatham Area Transit and Coastal Regional Coaches, or opt for airport shuttles or limos. Delta, JetBlue, United Airlines, and American all offer regular flights to the airport, with Atlanta and Charlotte being the most connected destinations.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is one of two international airports in Georgia, along with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Both airports offer world-class facilities and modern technology and innovations, and are disabled-friendly. The Savannah airport is easily accessible for tourists and businessmen alike, thanks to its proximity to business centres.

The Savannah airport has a rich history, dating back to 1918 when Savannah built its first airfield at Daffin Park, now near the centre of the city. In 1929, the Savannah Municipal Airport opened at the present site of Hunter Army Airfield. The airport's first terminal building was an old trolley car. The airport was renamed in 1932 to Hunter Field, after World War I flying ace Frank Hunter, and again in 1948 to Travis Field, honouring Air Force Brigadier General Robert Travis and his brother, Lieutenant Colonel William Travis. In 1965, Delta Air Lines DC-9s first flew into Savannah, offering all-jet service to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The airport underwent numerous renovations in the 1970s, including a new control tower with approach radar, and land acquisitions for future growth. In 1983, it was renamed Savannah International Airport, and in 1994, a new $43 million terminal was opened, featuring unique arch designs inspired by the town squares of historic Savannah. The airport received its current name, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, in 2002.

DeKalb-Peachtree Airport is Georgia's second-busiest air facility

Georgia has 327 public and private airports, with 8 airports handling commercial flights. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Georgia, and one of the busiest in the world. However, DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, commonly known as PDK, is Georgia's second-busiest air facility.

DeKalb-Peachtree Airport is a municipal general aviation airport located in Chamblee, Georgia, just northeast of Atlanta. It is operated by the local government of DeKalb County, and it is also known as Peachtree-DeKalb Airport or simply PDK. The airport is classified as a general aviation reliever airport, which means it reduces air carrier airport congestion by providing service for smaller general aviation aircraft.

The airport covers an area of 745 acres at an elevation of 1,003 feet above mean sea level. It has four runways, including three large runways with concrete or asphalt surfaces, and one helipad. DeKalb-Peachtree Airport is home to four aviation service companies, seven flight schools, and two helicopter operations. It also has over 100 hangars and approximately 590 aircraft are based at the airport, including around 50 corporate jets.

The airport has an interesting history, as it is located on a former military site. The property was once part of Camp Gordon, a World War I Army training base. After World War I, the government sold the property, and it was eventually purchased by DeKalb County in 1940 to construct an airport. The airport opened in 1941 as a U.S. Naval Reserve aviation base and was later used as a Naval Air Station during World War II. In the post-war years, the airport was converted to civilian use, and it became fully available for civilian flights in 1959. DeKalb-Peachtree Airport has since grown and expanded, becoming a critical part of Georgia's aviation and economic landscape.

Georgia's airports generate over $2 billion in economic activity

Georgia has 107 public-use airports, including 98 general aviation airports and nine commercial-aviation airports. Together, these airports generate over $2 billion in economic activity, provide more than 28,500 jobs, and contribute over $626 million in annual earnings.

The state's airports are vital to its transportation infrastructure, enabling local businesses to access new markets and attract commerce from outside Georgia. They also relieve congestion at larger airports, making travel more efficient for residents and businesses alike.

The busiest airport in Georgia is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is also one of the busiest airports in the world. It serves as a hub for Delta Airlines and offers nonstop or same-plane service to six continents. As the 10th-largest air cargo hub in North America, Hartsfield-Jackson handles about 54,000 metric tons of cargo and more than 60,000 metric tons of mail annually.

The second-busiest airport in Georgia is the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, which has been named one of "America's 100 Most Needed Airports" due to its role in improving the state's air transportation system and economy. This airport serves as a "general reliever airport" for metropolitan Atlanta, reducing congestion by providing local service for smaller aircraft.

Other major airports in Georgia include Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field, Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, Columbus Metropolitan Airport, and Valdosta Regional Airport. These airports offer regular scheduled service by commercial air carriers and provide connections to destinations within the US and abroad.

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