Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic and the primary hub for Delta Air Lines. Located south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, it connects travelers to domestic destinations across the United States and to international routes spanning six continents.
ATL's dominance in U.S. aviation stems from its central geographic position, which makes it one of the most efficient connecting hubs in the world. Delta Air Lines operates the vast majority of flights at Hartsfield-Jackson, giving passengers access to an extraordinarily dense network of domestic and international routes.
The airport features two parallel concourse complexes — the Domestic Terminal (with Concourses A, B, C, D, and T) and the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal. An underground automated people mover links all concourses, and passengers can also walk the connecting tunnel. The airport consistently processes over 100 million passengers annually, a figure no other airport in the world has matched.
Atlanta's first commercial airport opened in 1926 on the site of a former racetrack. The current facility evolved through decades of expansion, officially named William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport in 1971 after the mayor who championed its growth. The international terminal was added in 1980 ahead of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, which brought significant infrastructure investment. In 2003 the airport was renamed Hartsfield-Jackson to honor both former Mayor William Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first Black mayor.
The airport has held the title of world's busiest by passenger traffic for most years since 1998.
ATL has two main terminal complexes. The Domestic Terminal serves as the main ticketing and check-in hub and connects to Concourses A, B, C, D, and T via an underground train and pedestrian tunnel. The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal handles international arrivals and departures and connects to Concourse F.
All concourses are linked by the Plane Train automated people mover, which runs 24 hours a day and is the fastest way to move between concourses.
Delta Air Lines is by far the dominant carrier at ATL, operating flights from every concourse and connecting Atlanta to hundreds of domestic and international destinations. Other carriers serving ATL include American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and international operators on routes to Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
ATL offers nonstop service to more than 150 domestic destinations and dozens of international cities.
Hartsfield-Jackson offers a wide range of dining, retail, and passenger services across its concourses. Delta operates multiple Sky Club lounges throughout the airport. Free Wi-Fi is available system-wide. Nursing rooms, pet relief areas, and prayer rooms are located in each concourse.
The airport's underground connector features moving walkways and public art installations.
ATL is served by MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) rail, with a station directly inside the Domestic Terminal — one of the most convenient airport-to-rail connections in the U.S. The Gold and Red MARTA lines run between ATL and downtown Atlanta, Midtown, and Buckhead. Rideshare services, taxis, and rental cars are available on the ground transportation levels of both terminals.
ATL provides short-term, long-term, economy, and valet parking options. The main parking decks are connected to the Domestic Terminal via covered walkways. Off-airport parking operators in the surrounding area also offer shuttle service to the terminals at lower rates. Advance reservations are recommended during peak travel periods.
Allow extra connection time at ATL — while the Plane Train is fast, the airport's sheer size means gate-to-gate transfers can still take 20 to 30 minutes. Check your connecting gate as soon as you land and use the underground train rather than walking when moving between distant concourses.
ATL is particularly busy on Monday mornings and Sunday evenings. TSA PreCheck and CLEAR lanes are available throughout the airport. For international arrivals, customs processing times can vary — Global Entry significantly reduces wait times.
Hartsfield-Jackson is the economic anchor of metropolitan Atlanta and one of the largest employment centers in the state of Georgia. The airport directly and indirectly supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and generates tens of billions of dollars in annual economic activity. Its status as Delta's hub gives Atlanta outsized connectivity relative to its population, supporting corporate headquarters, convention business, and logistics operations.
ATL is undergoing ongoing infrastructure investment including modernization of older concourses, expanded international facilities, and sustainability programs targeting reduced energy consumption and emissions. The airport authority continues to plan for long-term capacity growth to maintain its position as the world's leading hub.
ATL is a primary commercial airport and one of the largest airline hubs in the world. It functions as a critical domestic and international gateway and a major connecting hub, particularly for Delta Air Lines. Its high-frequency operations and central location make it a core component of the U.S. aviation system.
Airports within approximately 60 miles of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport that may provide additional scheduled commercial, regional access.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a remarkable feat of aviation infrastructure — the busiest airport on earth, yet navigable and efficient thanks to its underground connector and well-organized terminal layout. Whether you are connecting through ATL or departing from Atlanta, understanding the concourse system is the key to a smooth experience.
ATL's combination of Delta Air Lines' dominant hub operations, its central geographic location for domestic connections, and decades of infrastructure investment have made it the highest-traffic airport in the world by passenger count.
Take the MARTA Gold or Red Line from the airport station inside the Domestic Terminal. The ride to downtown Atlanta (Five Points station) takes approximately 20 minutes and runs every few minutes during peak hours.
The Plane Train is an automated people mover that runs underground between ATL's concourses (T, A, B, C, D, and F). It operates 24 hours a day and is the fastest way to move between concourses.
The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal at ATL primarily handles international departures and arrivals. Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, and other international carriers operate from this terminal.
For the most current flight schedules, parking availability, terminal maps, and ground transportation updates, visit the official Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport website.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Official Site