Exploring Atlanta Airport: Tips And Tricks For Travelers

what to know about atlanta airport

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is one of the world's busiest airports, with tens of millions of passengers travelling through its terminals every year. The airport, which is located south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, offers flights to 150 domestic and 75 international destinations, with an average of 2,700 arrivals and departures daily. ATL has two terminals and seven concourses, with a total of 192 gates. The airport's hyphenated name comes from two former mayors of Atlanta, William B. Hartsfield and Maynard H. Jackson.

Characteristics Values
Name Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Location South of downtown Atlanta, Georgia
Number of terminals 2
Number of concourses 7
Number of gates 192
Terminals Domestic Terminal, Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal
Concourses T, A, B, C, D, E, F
Train connection The Plane Train
Number of daily arrivals and departures 2,700
Number of destinations 150 domestic, 75 international
Number of passengers Tens of millions
Parking lots Yes, with rates per day ranging from $14 to $36
Off-site parking Yes
Smoking Allowed in designated areas outside the terminal buildings
Art Over 1,000 artworks
Wi-Fi Free
Year opened 1925

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Atlanta Airport is one of the world's busiest airports

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is one of the world's busiest airports. Located south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, the airport offers flights to 150 domestic and 75 international destinations, with an average of 2,700 arrivals and departures every day. The 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, and the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal is on the east side. 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 automated people mover.

The airport has a long history as a busy travel hub. In May 1928, Pitcairn Aviation began service to Atlanta, and by the end of 1930, Atlanta was the third-busiest airport in the country for regular daily flights, with sixteen arriving and departing. In 1957, Atlanta claimed to be the country's busiest airport, with more than two million passengers passing through. In 2023, the airport served a whopping 104.6 million travellers, once again earning the title of the world's busiest airport.

The airport's location contributes to its popularity. Delta Air Lines, one of the major airlines serving the airport, has its hub in Atlanta, connecting tens of millions of travellers through the airport's concourses every year. Additionally, the airport offers a range of amenities and conveniences for travellers, including various dining options, from typical fast food and chain restaurants to more unique choices. There are also hundreds of shops, restaurants, and services throughout the airport, ensuring travellers have access to essential amenities.

The efficiency and capacity of the airport also contribute to its status as one of the world's busiest. The airport covers more than 150 acres, allowing for the efficient movement of a large number of passengers. The Plane Train, which connects all the terminals and concourses, facilitates easy transfers for travellers. The airport also has plans for further improvements, such as a bypass at the end of the Plane Train's route to reduce travel time between stops.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport's combination of convenient location, efficient operations, and ample travel options makes it one of the world's busiest airports, serving millions of travellers each year.

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The airport has two terminals and seven concourses

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is one of the world's busiest airports, with tens of millions of passengers travelling through its terminals every year. The 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 and the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal is on the east side. The Domestic Terminal has entrances on both sides, known as Domestic Terminal North and Domestic Terminal South.

The Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal and Concourse F opened on the east side of the airport for international passengers in 2012. The 1980 terminal on the other end of the complex then became the Domestic Terminal. The Plane Train connects all the terminals and concourses so travellers can easily transfer between sections. Concourse T is directly connected to the Domestic Terminal, and Concourse F is directly connected to the International Terminal. The remaining five concourses (Concourses A-E) are located between the two terminals and are parallel to each other.

The terminals and concourses are connected airside by the Transportation Mall, an underground pedestrian tunnel with a series of moving walkways. There is also a free terminal-to-terminal shuttle bus between the international terminal and domestic terminal. The airport is expansive, so it can be overwhelming for travellers. It is recommended that travellers arrive early to get through check-in and security lines and allow plenty of time for layovers.

There is a vast array of art throughout the terminals and concourses of the Atlanta airport, including a virtual walk through a forest in the underground walkway between Concourses A and B, and some massive hanging sculptures in the international terminal and Concourse F.

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It has an extensive art collection

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is one of the world's busiest airports, with tens of millions of passengers travelling through its terminals every year. The airport has an extensive art collection, with over 1,000 artworks across its two terminals and seven concourses.

The airport's art programme "commissions site-specific artwork, produces and curates rotating exhibits, and manages performances and artist programming". As a result, travellers can enjoy a variety of visual and performance art while waiting for their flights. For example, there is a virtual walk through a forest in the underground walkway between Concourses A and B, and some massive hanging sculptures in the international terminal and Concourse F.

Much of the artwork can be found by strolling between concourses rather than taking the Plane Train, and travellers have also been treated to violin and saxophone performances while waiting in the airport's security lines, especially during the holiday season.

The airport's art collection is one of the largest public art sites in the Southeastern US, and it is a great spot to explore and be inspired by art while travelling. The airport's history weaves the threads of innovation and transformation, marking it as a transportation hub and a living chronicle of human progress in the skies.

The airport's name, Hartsfield-Jackson, is derived from two former mayors of Atlanta, William B. Hartsfield and Maynard H. Jackson, who were key figures in its development. The international terminal is named after Jackson, who oversaw the construction of the main terminal, which opened in 1980.

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The airport has a free SkyTrain people-mover

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports, with tens of millions of passengers travelling through its terminals every year. The airport has a free SkyTrain people-mover that runs outside the airport. It has three stations, going from the domestic terminal to the Georgia International Convention Center and onto the airport's rental car centre. The SkyTrain provides a seamless solution for access to off-site facilities.

The Plane Train connects all the terminals and concourses so travellers can easily transfer between sections. The 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 and the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal is on the east side of the airport. The terminals and concourses are connected airside 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.

The airport is expansive — the terminal complex covers more than 150 acres. Given its reputation as one of the world's busiest airports, travellers should allocate extra time for their journey, especially during peak travel times. The airport's hyphenated name comes from two former mayors of Atlanta, William B. Hartsfield, who developed the airport in its earlier days, and Maynard H. Jackson, who oversaw construction of the main terminal completed in 1980. The international terminal is also named for Jackson.

The airport has been the busiest in the world for 23 of the last 24 years. Its history began around a century ago in the 1920s. Initially an abandoned auto racetrack, the property was developed into an airfield in the late 1920s. Called Candler Field, it was named for the landowners’ former family – which included Asa Griggs Candler, Coca-Cola founder and former Atlanta Mayor. In 1929, the city bought the land and renamed it the Atlanta Municipal Airport.

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It has been named after two former mayors of Atlanta

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is named after two former mayors of Atlanta, Georgia: William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.

The airport was initially named after Hartsfield in 1971, following his death. Hartsfield was instrumental in developing the airport in its early days. The name was changed to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport in the same year, as the airport began serving more international flights beyond North America.

In 2003, the Atlanta City Council voted to rename the airport to honour former mayor Maynard Jackson, who had died four months prior. Jackson oversaw the construction of the main terminal, completed in 1980, and the airport's international terminal is also named after him. The council initially planned to drop Hartsfield's name from the airport, but public sentiment prevented this, and the airport became known as Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998, excluding 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport has two terminals and seven concourses, with a total of 192 gates. It offers flights to 150 domestic and 75 international destinations, with an average of 2,700 arrivals and departures daily.

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Frequently asked questions

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, with tens of millions of passengers travelling through its terminals every year.

Domestic airlines include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Boutique Air, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, which claims the airport as a major hub. International airlines include Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, Copa Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet.

There are several parking lots at the airport, with rates per day ranging from $14 for park and ride to $36 for hourly lots. There are also several off-site, privately owned airport parking providers.

Atlanta airport has a free SkyTrain people-mover that runs outside the airport, connecting the domestic terminal to the Georgia International Convention Center and the airport's rental car centre. The airport also has an Airport Art programme, with over 1,000 artworks across the site.

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