Ruth Haines
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary international airport serving Atlanta and its surrounding metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Georgia. The airport is located 10 miles (16 km) south of the Downtown Atlanta district. It is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. The airport was established in 1926 on land that was previously an abandoned auto racetrack named The Atlanta Speedway. The lease for the land was signed on April 16, 1925, by Mayor Walter Sims, who committed to developing it into an airfield.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of first lease | April 16, 1925 |
| Former name | The Atlanta Speedway |
| First flight | September 15, 1926 |
| Former name | Candler Field |
| Renamed | Atlanta Municipal Airport |
| Year of renaming | 1926 |
| Year of opening of new terminal | 1961 |
| Year of renaming to Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport | 1971 |
| Year of renaming to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport | 2003 |
| Year it became the busiest airport | 1997 |
| Year it became the world's busiest airport by aircraft movements | 1998 |
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What You'll Learn
The Atlanta Speedway
In the late 1950s, the First Georgia Securities Corporation, led by president Richard W. King, announced plans to build a $1 million racing facility (adjusted for inflation, $10,898,501) with a capacity of 50,000 seats and covering 400 acres. Two months later, King and racing promoter Carl Queen of the nearby Lakewood Speedway opened a stock sale to the public, with 479,550 shares offered at $4 each. They stated their intention to host NASCAR and United States Auto Club (USAC)-sanctioned races and to expand the facility's uses to include a wide range of outdoor events.
However, the stock sale did not go as planned, with only $40,000 worth of shares sold by the end of July. Construction was further delayed, and by February 1959, there were disputes among the leadership, with drivers Curtis Turner and Joe Weatherly threatening to resign and file lawsuits. Despite these setbacks, the first races were held in 1960, but the track soon faced financial difficulties and was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1971.
In 1925, the city of Atlanta signed a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres of The Atlanta Speedway, with the intention of converting it into an airfield. The lease was signed by Mayor Walter Sims on April 16, 1925, and the airfield was renamed Candler Field after former Atlanta mayor Asa Candler. The first flight into Candler Field took place on September 15, 1926, marking the beginning of what would eventually become Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic.
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Candler Field
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, located 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, is the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998, except for 2020. The airport's history can be traced back to an abandoned auto racetrack named The Atlanta Speedway, which was leased by the City of Atlanta on April 16, 1925, for a five-year, rent-free period. The property was renamed Candler Field after its former owner, Coca-Cola tycoon and former Atlanta mayor Asa Candler.
The first flight into Candler Field landed on September 15, 1926, marking the beginning of the airport's operations. Within a few years of its opening, Candler Field was renamed Atlanta Municipal Airport, a name that remained for four decades. During this period, the airport experienced significant growth and demand, leading to plans for a replacement passenger terminal in the mid-1950s. The old facilities, which dated back to 1948, were struggling to cope with the increasing air traffic.
In 1961, a beautiful new terminal was officially opened, with Atlanta Mayor William B. Hartsfield and Delta Airlines President C. E. Woolman in attendance. This new terminal was designed to handle the growing demand and included expanded concourses and improved facilities. The airport continued to expand and renovate its facilities over the years, including the addition of departure lounges and docking ports to accommodate larger aircraft.
In 1971, the airport was renamed William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Airport to honour the late Mayor Hartsfield, who played a pivotal role in the airport's development. Later that year, the name was slightly modified to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport to reflect the growing number of international flights to and from Atlanta. The airport has continued to bear the name of Mayor Hartsfield, with the addition of the name of another influential figure, Mayor Maynard Jackson, in recognition of his leadership in the airport's expansion.
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Atlanta Municipal Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, previously known as Atlanta Municipal Airport, started as Candler Field in September 1926. The airport has been through several name changes, including honouring Atlanta figures like former mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.
The history of the airport is unique and varied, ranging from several name changes to opening what was the world's largest terminal complex in 1980. On April 16, 1925, the City of Atlanta signed a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres of land that was an abandoned auto racetrack named The Atlanta Speedway. The lease was signed by Mayor Walter Sims, who committed to developing the land into an airfield. As part of the agreement, the property was renamed Candler Field after its former owner, Coca-Cola tycoon and former Atlanta mayor Asa Candler.
The first flight into Candler Field was on September 15, 1926, when a Florida Airways mail plane flew in from Jacksonville, Florida. Within a few years of opening, Candler Field was renamed Atlanta Municipal Airport, a name that remained for forty years. In the mid-1950s, officials at the Atlanta Municipal Airport began making plans for a replacement passenger terminal as the old facilities, which dated back to 1948, were struggling to handle the overwhelming traffic. The Atlanta-based architectural firm of Robert and Company was hired to design a new facility, and construction began in 1958 on a site adjacent to the old terminal.
On May 3, 1961, the new terminal was officially opened during a ceremony held within the Departure Level, with Atlanta Mayor William B. Hartsfield and Delta Airlines President C. E. Woolman in attendance. In 1971, the airport was renamed William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Airport in honour of Hartsfield, who had steered the airport from the barnstorming era to the jet age. Later that year, the name was changed again to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport with the growth of international flights to and from Atlanta. In 2003, the city added the name of Mayor Maynard Jackson, who led the rebuilding of the airport in the 1970s, creating the current name: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
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William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the primary international airport serving Atlanta and its surrounding metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Georgia. The airport is located 10 miles (16 km) south of the Downtown Atlanta district. It is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.
The airport's history began in 1909 when the site was used as a racetrack. On April 16, 1925, the City of Atlanta signed a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres of land that was an abandoned auto racetrack named The Atlanta Speedway. The lease was signed by Mayor Walter Sims, who committed the city to develop it into an airfield. As part of the agreement, the property was renamed Candler Field after its former owner, Coca-Cola tycoon and former Atlanta mayor Asa Candler. The first flight into Candler Field was on September 15, 1926, a Florida Airways mail plane flying from Jacksonville, Florida. Within a few years of opening, Candler Field was renamed Atlanta Municipal Airport, a name that remained in place for forty years.
In 1971, the airport was renamed William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Airport in honour of Atlanta mayor William B. Hartsfield after his death. The name change took effect on what would have been Hartsfield's 81st birthday. The new name was brief, as it was changed later that year to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport with the growth of international flights to and from Atlanta.
In 1977, construction began on the present midfield terminal complex, which was designed by Stevens & Wilkinson, Smith Hinchman & Grylls, and Minority Airport Architects & Planners. The complex was built to address the significant increase in air traffic that outstripped the capacity of the 1961 terminal.
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998, excluding 2020 when its passenger traffic decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport has continued to expand to keep up with passenger demand and in 2015, it served a record 100 million passengers.
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
The airport's history dates back to the 1920s, with significant growth driven by Delta Air Lines. However, the site's history as an aviation hub goes back even further, to 1909, when it was a modest two-mile racetrack known as the Atlanta Speedway. The racetrack was funded by and named after Asa Candler, the founder of the Coca-Cola Company and Atlanta's mayor from 1917 to 1919.
In 1925, Atlanta's mayor, Walter Sims, signed a five-year, rent-free lease on 287 acres (121-183 hectares) of the abandoned racetrack, committing the city to develop it into an airfield. As part of the agreement, the property was renamed Candler Field after its former owner. The first flight into Candler Field was on September 15, 1926, a Florida Airways mail plane flying from Jacksonville, Florida.
Over the years, the airport has undergone several name changes and expansions to accommodate growing passenger traffic. In 1940, its control tower was built and became operational. By 1950, the airport, then known as Atlanta Municipal Airport, was regularly serving over one million passengers per year. To handle the increasing demand, a new terminal was built in 1961, which was the biggest of its kind in America at the time.
In 1971, the airport was renamed William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Airport in honour of Atlanta mayor William B. Hartsfield after his death. However, later that year, with the introduction of the airport's first non-stop scheduled international services to Mexico and Montego Bay, its name was changed again to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport.
In 2003, the airport's name was updated once more to include another former mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson, becoming Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as we know it today. Jackson was instrumental in elevating both the city and the airport to the global stage, including securing Atlanta's bid to host the 1996 Olympics.
Today, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports, serving over 100 million passengers annually. It is the corporate headquarters and primary hub of Delta Air Lines, with just over 1,000 flights daily to 225 domestic and international destinations. The airport covers 4,700 acres (7.3 sq mi; 19 km2) of land and has five parallel runways, making it one of the largest and most active airports in the world.
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