Atlanta Airport: The World's Busiest Hub

what is atlanta airport known for

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary international airport serving Atlanta and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is one of the world's busiest airports, serving hundreds of domestic and international destinations for over 100 million passengers annually. The airport is also known for its efficiency, holding the title of the World's Most Efficient Airport for 14 consecutive years. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.

Characteristics Values
Busiest airport in the world Ranked first in 2022 and 2023 by Airports Council International
Efficiency Named the World's Most Efficient Airport for 14 consecutive years
Passenger traffic Served over 104.6 million passengers in 2023
Aircraft movements Named the busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements in 2024
Employment Employs around 55,300 people and is the largest employment center in Georgia
Economic impact Has an annual regional economic impact of more than $19.8 billion
History Began as a rent-free lease on an abandoned auto racetrack named The Atlanta Speedway
Terminals and concourses Features two terminals and seven concourses with a total of 192 gates
Pet-friendly Includes a 1,000-square-foot dog park for passenger pets and service animals
Eateries and retail businesses Home to over 300 eateries and retail businesses
Transportation Offers free airport transportation and easy access to downtown Atlanta

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The busiest airport in the world

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world, serving as a portal to hundreds of domestic and international destinations for over 100 million passengers annually. The airport has been considered the world's busiest since 1998, except in 2020 when its passenger traffic dipped due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. In 2023, the airport served over 104.6 million passengers, the most of any airport in the world.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has two terminals and seven concourses with a total of 192 gates. The Domestic Terminal is located on the west side of the airport, with entrances on both sides known as Domestic Terminal North and Domestic Terminal South. The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal is on the east side of the airport. The terminals and concourses are connected by the Transportation Mall, an underground pedestrian tunnel with a series of moving walkways and The Plane Train, an underground automated people mover.

The airport is built on land that was formerly the Atlanta Speedway, an abandoned racetrack purchased by Asa Candler, the founder of Coca-Cola. The airport is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. It is the largest employment centre in Georgia, with a direct and indirect economic impact of over $3.2 billion on the local and regional economy and an annual regional economic impact of more than $19.8 billion.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been named the World's Most Efficient Airport for 14 consecutive years. The airport features over 300 eateries and retail businesses, a 1,000-square-foot dog park, and a designated area for ridesharing services.

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Named after former Atlanta mayors

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.

The airport's history began with a five-year, rent-free lease signed on April 16, 1925, by Mayor Walter Sims. The lease was for 287 acres of land that was once an abandoned auto racetrack called The Atlanta Speedway. As part of the agreement, the property was renamed Candler Field after its former owner, Asa Candler, the founder of Coca-Cola and a former Atlanta mayor.

The airport has been routinely cited as one of the world's busiest, topping the Airports Council International rankings in 2022 and 2023. It has retained its title as the world's busiest passenger airport since 1998, except in 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected passenger traffic.

The airport has 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 side. The Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal and Concourse F opened in 2012, and the former is named after the late Atlanta mayor Maynard H. Jackson.

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Efficient and convenient

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is routinely cited as one of the world's busiest airports, topping the Airports Council International rankings in 2022 and 2023. It has held the title of the World's Most Efficient Airport for 14 consecutive years.

The airport is located 10 miles (16 km) south of Downtown Atlanta and is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. It has two terminals and seven concourses with a total of 192 gates. The Domestic Terminal is on the west side of the airport, with entrances on both sides known as Domestic Terminal North and Domestic Terminal South. The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal is on the east side of the airport. The terminals and concourses are connected by the Transportation Mall, an underground pedestrian tunnel with a series of moving walkways and The Plane Train, a 24/7 underground automated people mover.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary international airport serving Atlanta and its surrounding metropolitan area. It has been the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998, excluding 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic were in place. In 2023, the airport served over 104.6 million passengers. The airport is also the largest employment centre in Georgia, with a payroll of $2.4 billion and a direct and indirect economic impact of over $20 billion on the local and regional economy.

The airport is easily accessible by car or public transport. It is connected to Atlanta's rapid transit system, with the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) station located inside the airport. The airport also has a designated pickup and drop-off area for ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft near domestic ticketing and baggage claim. Additionally, many hotels near the airport offer free airport transportation, such as those accessible via the ATL SkyTrain.

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A former racecourse

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, sits on land that was once an abandoned auto racetrack called the Atlanta Speedway. The airport's history as a former racecourse dates back to 1925 when Mayor Walter Sims signed a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres of land. This lease agreement committed the city to transform the former racetrack into an airfield.

The property was renamed Candler Field after its previous owner, Asa Candler, a former Atlanta mayor and Coca-Cola tycoon. The first flight into Candler Field took place on September 15, 1926, when a Florida Airways mail plane flew in from Jacksonville, Florida. In the following years, airlines like Pitcairn Aviation and Delta Air Service (later known as Eastern Air Lines and Delta Air Lines, respectively) began servicing Atlanta, with both airlines using the city as their primary hubs.

The airport's early years saw significant growth and development, with Atlanta Municipal Airport ushering in the "Jet Age" with the opening of the country's largest single terminal in 1958. This new terminal could accommodate 6 million travellers a year, but within its first year, it had already exceeded that number, welcoming 9.5 million passengers.

Today, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has two terminals and seven concourses, with a total of 192 gates. The airport is a major employer, with approximately 55,300 employees across various sectors, including airlines, ground transportation, concessions, security, and more. The airport's economic impact is significant, with a direct and indirect influence on the local and regional economy, contributing billions of dollars annually.

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A major employer

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary international airport serving Atlanta and its surrounding metropolitan area. The airport is located 10 miles south of Downtown Atlanta. It is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic and aircraft movements. It has retained this title since 1998, except in 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected passenger traffic. In 2023, the airport served over 104.6 million passengers, the most of any airport in the world.

The airport's dominance is partly due to Delta Air Lines, which has used Atlanta as a hub since 1930. After airline deregulation in 1978, Delta was quick to adopt the hub-and-spoke route system, giving it an advantage in the Atlanta market.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is also Georgia's biggest employer. The airport employs about 55,300 people in various roles, including airline, ground transportation, concessionaire, security, federal government, City of Atlanta, and airport tenant employees. The airport has a direct and indirect economic impact of $3.2 billion on the local and regional economy and an annual regional economic impact of more than $19.8 billion.

The large number of employees at the airport is due to its size and the range of services it offers. The airport has two terminals and seven concourses with a total of 192 gates. It is also home to over 300 eateries and retail businesses. The airport's efficiency is enhanced by its state-of-the-art technology, innovative architectural design, and convenient transportation options, including the ATL SkyTrain, which provides free access to nearby hotels.

Frequently asked questions

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is known for being the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic and aircraft movements. It has held this title since 1998, except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Atlanta Airport is also known for being the world's most efficient airport, holding this title for 14 years in a row.

Atlanta Airport features over 300 eateries and retail businesses, many of which are accessible outside the security checkpoint. It also has a 1,000-square-foot dog park for passenger pets and service animals.

Atlanta Airport began as a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres of abandoned auto racetrack land named The Atlanta Speedway. The lease was signed on April 16, 1925, and the first flight into Candler Field was on September 15, 1926.

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