Airports In Atlanta, Georgia: A Comprehensive Guide

Atlanta, Georgia is served by 29 airports, both public and private. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary airport serving Atlanta and its metropolitan area. The airport is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. It is the largest employment centre in Georgia, with about 55,300 employees and a payroll of $2.4 billion. The airport has been the busiest in the world by passenger traffic since 1998, excluding 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other airports in Atlanta include Fulton County Airport-Brown Field and DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

The airport is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. It began as a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres of land that was once an abandoned auto racetrack called The Atlanta Speedway. The lease was signed on April 16, 1925, with the commitment to develop it into an airfield. The property was renamed Candler Field, and the first flight into the airfield was a Florida Airways mail plane from Jacksonville, Florida, on September 15, 1926.

The Hartsfield–Jackson Rental Car Center, which opened in 2009, is a significant addition to the airport's facilities. It houses ten rental agencies, offers 9,900 parking spaces across two four-story decks, and includes a large customer service centre and a maintenance centre. An automated people mover, the ATL SkyTrain, connects the rental car centre, the Domestic Terminal, and the Gateway Center of the Georgia International Convention Center.

Fulton County Airport-Brown Field

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary airport in Atlanta, Georgia. However, there is another airport in the city known as the Fulton County Airport-Brown Field. This airport is located in West Atlanta and covers an area of 985 acres (399 hectares) at an elevation of 841 feet (256 meters) above sea level.

Fulton County Airport has two asphalt runways: 8/26, which is 5,797 feet long and 100 feet wide, and 14/32, which is 4,158 feet long and also 100 feet wide. The airport is managed by the Fulton County Public Works Department, with David E. Clark serving as the Public Works Director and Jonathan Gauthier as the Airport Manager.

In the year ending December 31, 2021, the airport recorded 79,449 general aviation aircraft operations, averaging 218 operations per day. As of December 2021, there were 86 aircraft based at Fulton County Airport, including 34 single-engine planes, 6 multi-engine planes, 44 jets, and 2 helicopters. The airport also houses a Georgia Army National Guard armory.

DeKalb-Peachtree Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the main airport in Atlanta, Georgia. However, there is also DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, a municipal general aviation airport located in Chamblee, Georgia, just northeast of Atlanta. The airport is operated by the local government of DeKalb County, Georgia, and is also known as Peachtree-DeKalb Airport, or simply PDK. The airport is located on a part of the old Camp Gordon, a World War I Army training base. It began operations in 1941, before the US entered World War II, as Naval Air Station Atlanta.

The airport is used by helicopters for Atlanta's four major network-affiliated television stations as a base for electronic news gathering. It is also home to The AutoPILOT Magazine, an advertorial publication covering aviation-related topics.

Clayton County expansion

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is located in Clayton County, Atlanta, Georgia. The airport has embarked on an "ambitious" expansion project, which involves widening Concourse D. This project aims to improve the travel experience for the thousands of passengers who pass through the airport daily.

Concourse D, which was opened in 1980, is currently the narrowest concourse at the airport. The expansion project will increase the width of the concourse by 29 feet and the ceiling height by 18 feet. This will allow for larger-capacity jets and boost the concourse's seating capacity by 1,000 seats, bringing the total to 6,400. The hold rooms will also be doubled in size, and the restrooms will be expanded.

The project is using a unique building technique with prefabricated modules. Nineteen modules are being built at a six-acre modular construction lot adjacent to the airport. They will then be installed individually during quieter nighttime hours to avoid disrupting airport operations. The first module was added in January 2025, marking the beginning of the second phase of the project.

In addition to the expansion of Concourse D, there are also plans for improved transit connectivity to the airport from Clayton County. The Clayton Southlake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, approved in December 2023, aims to improve southside and regional connectivity. The project includes a potential direct connection to the airport, with at least 13 stations along the 15.5-mile BRT route. The final designs and construction are expected to take place over the next two years, with service beginning in 2026.

Airport facilities and amenities

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary airport serving Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of 29 airports in and around Atlanta, both public and private. The airport is a major hub of activity and the largest employment centre in Georgia, with about 55,300 employees. It has been routinely cited as one of the world's busiest airports, serving 100 million passengers in 2015 and topping the Airports Council International rankings in 2022 and 2023. The airport covers a large area of land and has five parallel runways.

Hartsfield–Jackson Airport offers a range of facilities and amenities to cater to the high volume of passengers. The airport has its own train station, served by the Red and Gold lines of Atlanta's rapid transit system, MARTA. An automated people mover, the ATL SkyTrain, connects the rental car centre, the Domestic Terminal, and the Gateway Center of the Georgia International Convention Center. The airport also has convenient parking options, with a large complex featuring thousands of parking spaces across two four-story parking decks.

For travellers seeking dining and shopping options, the airport provides a variety of choices. There are numerous shops and restaurants available, including InMotion Entertainment. The airport also offers essential amenities such as clean bathrooms. Additionally, travellers can take advantage of the convenient shared-ride shuttle services available at the airport.

The Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport website provides useful information for passengers. It offers updates on TSA wait times, allowing travellers to plan ahead and efficiently navigate security checks. The website also provides details on airport parking, shops, dining options, and more. Overall, the airport is well-equipped to handle the high passenger traffic, providing a range of facilities and amenities to ensure a smooth and convenient experience for travellers.

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