Roberta Aguirre
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is named after two important Georgia politicians: former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. Hartsfield, who served as mayor from the 1930s to the 1960s, was a key figure in helping Atlanta become one of the top aviation centres in the US. Jackson, the first African-American mayor of a major southern US city, played a vital role in the airport's redevelopment in the 1970s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport |
| Who was it named after | Former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson |
| Year of naming | 2003 |
| Reason for naming | To honour the two politicians who played a vital role in the airport's development |
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What You'll Learn
William B. Hartsfield
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is named after two important Georgia politicians: William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.
In 2003, the Atlanta City Council voted to add the name of former mayor Maynard Jackson to the airport's name. Jackson, Atlanta's first African-American mayor, played a vital role in the redevelopment of the airport in the 1970s.
The airport is one of the busiest in the world, with more than 110 million passengers travelling through it in 2019. It covers 4,700 acres of land and has five parallel runways.
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Maynard Jackson
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is named after two important Georgia politicians: former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.
Jackson himself became a lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board and a legal services firm. He joined the Democratic Party and, in 1968, ran for the US Senate against incumbent Herman Talmadge. Although he lost the election, Jackson gained prominence in Atlanta, which had a large Black minority. In 1971, construction began on a midfield terminal complex at the airport under Jackson's administration as mayor. The complex was the largest construction project in the South at the time, costing $500 million.
Jackson was the first African American to serve as mayor of a major southern city. During his tenure, Atlanta experienced a rising crime rate, which Jackson attempted to address by appointing the activist and personal friend A. Reginald Eaves as Public Safety Commissioner in 1974. However, Eaves was criticized for his lack of police experience and what some described as "reverse discrimination" in the police department. After leaving office, Jackson remained active in the Democratic Party.
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Jackson's death in 2003
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is named after two important Georgia politicians: William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.
In 2003, the name Jackson was added to the airport's name, Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, following the death of Maynard Jackson earlier that year. Jackson was the first African American to serve as mayor of a major southern city and played a vital role in the airport's redevelopment in the 1970s.
Maynard Jackson passed away four months before the Atlanta City Council voted to rename the airport in his honour. The council initially planned to remove Hartsfield's name from the airport, but public outcry prevented this.
In other news that year, Michael Jackson was back in the public eye, preparing for a series of comeback concerts, "This Is It", due to begin in July 2009 in London. In February 2003, a documentary called "Living with Michael Jackson" was broadcast, showing Jackson holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with a 12-year-old boy. In October 2003, Jackson received the Key to the City of Las Vegas. On December 18, 2003, Jackson's attorneys settled a lawsuit for an undisclosed amount, and Santa Barbara authorities charged him with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of intoxicating a minor.
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The airport's location
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is located about 10 miles from Downtown Atlanta, in the US state of Georgia. The airport is mostly in unincorporated areas of Clayton County, but it also extends into the city limits of Atlanta, College Park, and Hapeville, in Fulton County. The airport covers 4,700 acres of land and has five parallel runways. The airport's domestic terminal is served by MARTA's Red and Gold rail lines.
The airport's full name is Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, named after two important Georgia politicians: former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. The airport is one of the busiest in the world, with more than 110 million passengers travelling through in 2019.
The airport's domestic terminal is located on the west side, 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. There are a total of seven concourses with 192 gates.
The area immediately surrounding the airport is called “The ATL Airport District”. Hotels near the airport are priced an average of 30% lower than Downtown Atlanta, and many include free airport transportation.
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The airport's size
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson, is one of the busiest airports in the world. Covering 4,700 acres (7.3 sq mi; 19 km2) of land, it is a sprawling complex that includes five parallel runways aligned in an east–west direction. The airport's domestic terminal is served by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's (MARTA) Red and Gold rail lines, providing convenient access to and from the city.
The terminal complex itself is an impressive structure, spanning 156.1 acres (63.2 hectares) or 6.8 million square feet. It includes both the Domestic and International terminals, as well as Concourses T, A, B, C, D, E, and F, offering a total of 192 gates. Of these, 152 are domestic gates, while 40 are international. The complex also houses more than 200 concession outlets, providing a variety of food and beverage options, retail stores, and other services to meet the needs of travellers.
One notable feature of the airport is the underground "Plane Train," which efficiently connects all concourses with the Domestic and International terminals. Consisting of eleven four-car trains operating on a 3-mile loop track, the Plane Train provides a convenient and rapid means of transportation for passengers and employees alike, carrying over 200,000 passengers daily. Additionally, the airport boasts an extensive parking infrastructure, with more than 30,000 public parking spaces available across the Domestic and International Terminals.
In December 2009, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport further expanded its facilities with the opening of a 67.5-acre rental car centre. This state-of-the-art facility houses all rental car company operations and vehicles, featuring two four-story parking decks and providing over 8,700 parking spaces. The centre also includes a spacious 137,000-square-foot customer service area, accommodating 13 rental car agencies to cater to the diverse needs of travellers.
With its vast expanse of land, extensive terminal complex, and array of supporting facilities, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport stands as a testament to the vision of its namesakes, William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson, solidifying its reputation as one of the world's leading aviation hubs.
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Frequently asked questions
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport was named after two important Georgia politicians: former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.
The airport was named after Hartsfield in 1971, after his death.
The Jackson name was added to the airport in 2003 or 2004, after the death of former Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson.
Hartsfield founded the airport and became its first commissioner. He was also a key figure in helping Atlanta grow into one of the nation's top aviation centres.
