
Your Gateway to
the World
KNOWAtlanta's guide to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Even though you may not
be calling Atlanta your new home just yet, chances are one of your first introductions
to the Peach City was through the expansive concourses of Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport. Every day, nearly 250,000 passengers travel through
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, making it the world’s
busiest passenger airport—a distinction it has held for more than 10 years.
Last year, 980,000 flights carrying more than 89 million passengers passed through
the airport, including flights from some 80 international destinations. With
its two terminals and six concourses, Atlanta has one of the largest airport
terminal complexes in the world. The airport has five runways, 171 domestic
and 28 international gates, nearly 300 concession outlets, more than 30,000
parking spaces, numerous art installations and a rental car center.
These numbers add up to a major economic boost for the metro area. The airport
is a driving force for Georgia, generating $23.5 billion in revenue. It also
provides employment for 58,000 people whose jobs are directly related to the
airport, as well as an additional 18,000 jobs supported by airport-related businesses.
A recent study determined that the airport has a direct economic impact of approximately
$32.5 billion for the metropolitan Atlanta economy.
Getting There
Getting to Hartsfield-Jackson is easy: By car, you’ll follow either I-85
or I-285 and exit onto a network of roads that lead to the North or South terminals,
as well as baggage claim and airport parking. Once you arrive at the airport,
there are plenty of parking options: Hartsfield-Jackson offers more than 30,000
parking spaces—7,500 in the North and South Terminal economy parking lots,
1,300 in the Silver Reserve lot and 8,100 in the Park-Ride lots. For those who
prefer to take public transportation, the airport is the final stop on MARTA’s
Red Line. The airport MARTA station is connected to the South Terminal and offers
a Delta curbside check-in station. Travelers using airlines based in the North
Terminal have just a short walk to their check-in area.
Inside the Airport
Once inside the terminal, passengers shouldn’t have any trouble figuring
out how to get to their gate. Hartsfield-Jackson is organized into a terminal
building—housing the North and South terminals—and six concourses
(T, A, B, C, D and E, the international concourse). Security at Hartsfield-Jackson
moves quickly, thanks to a newly expanded security checkpoint area that includes
four new lanes in the South Terminal and six new lanes in North Terminal, so
that customers now have a total of 32 lanes at three checkpoints. Because of
the new lanes, the average wait time is only 10 minutes, or 20 minutes if there’s
a delay. Travelers can then access the concourses and gates via the Automated
People Mover, a speedy, underground train that travels a 3.5-mile track. Ease
of movement and exceeding customer expectations are the airport’s top
priorities.
A Growing Airport
With those goals in mind, Hartsfield-Jackson is constantly growing and changing
to best meet travelers’ needs. Southwest Airlines’ highly publicized
buyout of AirTran Airways, which closed in May 2011, promises to bring the largest
airline by domestic passenger volume to Atlanta. For the time being, AirTran,
the second largest airline at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport,
continues to operate as a separate unit of Southwest and book flights under
its name and through the AirTran website.
Atlanta is the largest domestic market that Southwest hasn’t served, but
as the carriers complete their integration, it will have a large presence in
Atlanta. Southwest’s acquisition of a hub at the nation’s busiest
airport means more competition and lower fares for Atlanta travelers. The carriers’
merger also brings Southwest’s policies on baggage fees and seating to
the forefront. Unlike many other leading airlines, Southwest doesn’t charge
for checked baggage—up to two bags can be checked for free. Southwest
also doesn’t assign seating. Instead, the airline assigns passengers to
different boarding groups and positions based on time of check-in.
Improvements and expansions at Hartsfield-Jackson don’t end with domestic
travel. Since 2008, the airport has been building the Maynard H. Jackson Jr.
International Terminal. Construction is expected to be complete by spring 2012.
Coming in at 1.2 million-square-feet, the new terminal boasts a 12-gate concourse,
which will be known as Concourse F. Concourse F will join Concourse E (the existing
international concourse) by an extension of the Plane Train, producing a 40-gate
international travel gateway. Tired of having to do baggage rechecks? The new
terminal removes the baggage recheck process for Atlanta-bound international
travelers.
The terminal also provides relief for current facilities by eliminating international
passengers from Concourse E and security checkpoints. It will also result in
the lightening of passenger loads on the Automated People Mover trains as well
as traffic flow within the Transportation Mall. The new terminal will have eight
security checkpoint lanes for international departing passengers and five recheck
lanes for domestic connecting passengers. Passengers will also enjoy a quicker
boarding process; the terminal features an in-line baggage screening system.
Looking for easy access to the airport? The terminal is located right off Interstate
75 on the east side of the airport and will include 1,100 new parking spaces
near the entrance. Overall, the new terminal promises to generate thousands
of jobs and cause a lasting positive effect on local businesses. Presently,
the expected cost of this project totals $1.4 billion.
Retail and Relaxation
Regardless of whether you are flying domestically or internationally, airport
stores and restaurants have long been a part of the air travel experience. At
Hartsfield-Jackson, a retail renaissance is bringing in high-end retailers and
businesses that offer better shopping choices and a true taste of Atlanta to
the terminals and concourses. In addition, the airport recently introduced the
Minute Suites program, a first-of-its-kind service giving travelers a private
space to relax, do business or catch a nap. The Minute Suites are five private
suites outfitted with a high-definition television, Internet access, daybed
sofa, fresh pillows and a sound-masking system to neutralize noise. All of these
services add up to a more pleasurable experience. For a taste of local fare,
try Atlanta Bread Company in the Atrium and on Concourse C, Buckhead Books/Café
Intermezzo on Concourse B, Paschal’s Southern Kitchen in the Atrium and
on Concourse A and Savannah’s Candy Kitchen on Concourse B. The airports
hometown retailers include All ATL on Concourse C, Atlanta magazine’s
Home in the Atrium, the Georgia Aquarium’s Beyond the Reef in the Atrium
and Zoo Atlanta’s Panda Veranda on Concourse B.
No matter where you are going, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
promises to make getting there a fun and pleasurable experience. Happy travels!