History of ATL

April 16, 1925

Mayor Walter A. Sims signs a five-year lease on an abandoned auto racetrack and commits the City to developing it into an airfield. As part of the agreement, this 287 acres of land is renamed Candler Field after its former owner’s family, including Coca-Cola magnate Asa Candler. The infield of the old racetrack had been used as a landing site for many years prior to 1925.

September 15, 1926

Florida Airways delivers mail on the Tampa/Jacksonville/Atlanta route to become the first commercial flight into Candler Field.

October 11, 1927

Charles Lindbergh is given a hero’s welcome as he visits Atlanta in the Spirit of St. Louis.

May 1, 1928

Airmail provider Pitcairn Aviation (later known as Eastern Airlines) begins regularly scheduled air service.

April 13, 1929

The City pays $94,400 for the land and changes the name of the Airport to Atlanta Municipal Airport.

June 12 1930

Delta Air Service (later known as Delta Air Lines) begins a trial service from Birmingham, Ala., on June 12 and on June 18 made it an “official” permanent route.

December 10, 1930

Eastern Air Transport, formerly Pitcairn Aviation, inaugurates first continuous passenger service from Atlanta to New York.

July 4, 1934

Delta re-establishes Ft. Worth-Atlanta route securing its place in Atlanta’s aviation history as the Airport’s oldest continuous tenant.

March 1939

The Airport opens its first control tower.

1957

Work begins on new terminal to help alleviate congestion. Atlanta was the busiest airport in the country with more than 2 million passengers passing through. Between noon and 2 p.m. each day, Atlanta became the busiest airport in the world.

May 3, 1961

Atlanta Municipal Airport is ushered into the “Jet Age” with the opening of the largest single terminal in the country. The new $21 million structure could accommodate 6 million travelers a year. Within its first year, 9.5 million people visited, stretching the new terminal past its capacity.

1964

The Atlanta Region Metropolitan Planning Commission (ARMPC) does the first formal planning studies and proposes the mid-field terminal concept open in 1980.

February 1971

William B. Hartsfield dies on Feb. 22 and on Feb. 28, what would have been Hartsfield’s 81st birthday, the Airport name is changed to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Airport.

July 1, 1971

The Airport’s name is again changed, this time to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, when Eastern Airlines introduces flights to Mexico and Montego Bay, the Airport’s first international service.

January 1977

Construction begins on the world’s largest terminal complex. This $500 million project would be the largest construction project in the South.

June 1, 1978

Sabena Belgian World Airlines becomes Atlanta’s first foreign international carrier when it begins a four-time a week service to Brussels.

September 21, 1980

William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport opens the world’s largest air passenger terminal complex, covering 2.5 million square feet.

December 1984

A 9,000-foot fourth parallel runway was completed. A separate expansion the following spring gave the Airport an 11,889-foot runway capable of handling the largest commercial airplane in use or in development.

June 18, 1988

MARTA’s Airport station opened, linking the Airport to Atlanta’s rapid transit system.

Fall 1992

The Atlanta Perishable and Equine Complex opens.

September 1994

The new 1.3 million square foot International Concourse E opens. It is the largest, single international facility in the nation. Blending state-of-the-art technology with innovative architectural design, distinctive art and pleasant amenities, Concourse E is designed to help move international passengers quickly and smoothly to their next destination.

May 1996

The $250 million Hartsfield Improvement Program (HIP “96) is completed. This ambitious renovation and restructuring effort was designed to make Hartsfield a more user-friendly Airport. One of the more dramatic improvements of this program is the addition of the beautiful, three-story, 250,000 square-foot Atrium.

June 1996

The Department of Aviation begins developing its new Master Plan — Hartsfield – 2000 and Beyond.

July 1996

The Centennial Olympic Summer Games come to Georgia.

February 1999

Hartsfield gains the title World’s Busiest Airport in passenger volume after accommodating 73.5 million travelers in 1998.

March 2000

Hartsfield is recognized as the World’s Busiest Airport in terms of both passenger traffic and landings and takeoffs after accommodating more than 78 million passengers and more than 900,000 landings and takeoffs for 1999.

April 2001

The City of Atlanta celebrates the groundbreaking for the new fifth runway at Hartsfield. This project is a major component of the $6 billion-plus, 10-year capital improvement program. Other projects include a new international terminal and Consolidated Rental Car facility (CONRAC). The fifth runway is the largest public works project in Georgia history.

October 2001

Following the attacks of 9/11, enhanced security measures were adopted at the nation’s airports. Members of the Georgia National Guard begin security patrols at Hartsfield to support existing security personnel and Atlanta police officers at Hartsfield.

October 2003

To honor late Atlanta Mayor Maynard H. Jackson, the Atlanta City Council legislated a name change of the Airport. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport recognizes the visionary leadership that both William B. Hartsfield and Jackson had for the Airport. Hartsfield-Jackson, the world’s busiest passenger airport for the fourth consecutive year, stands as a testament to two of the city’s greatest leaders.

July 2004

Construction begins on the $215 million TSA Baggage Security Screening Project, which creates specially constructed rooms below the Airport roadways for Explosive Detection Systems currently located in the ticketing lobbies. As part of the project, additional screening facilities were constructed at International Concourse E, Airport roadways were reconfigured and improved terminal curb fronts were installed.

December 2004

A record 83.6 million passengers passed through the Airport, and since 1998, Hartsfield-Jackson has retained its title as the world’s busiest passenger airport. Additionally, a record 6 million international passengers travel through Hartsfield-Jackson, marking a 103 percent growth since the city of Atlanta hosted the 1996 Olympic Summer Games

July 2005

Hartsfield-Jackson celebrates its 80th birthday. From its humble beginnings to its present world-class distinction and into its illustrious future, the Airport continues to be a vital link in the world’s air transportation system.

May 2006

The fifth runway open. It is hailed as “The Most Important Runway in America.”

January 2007

Hartsfield-Jackson receives several prestigious national honors. It was named Best Large U.S. Airport by American Express’ Executive Traveler magazine. It was named Most Efficient Airport in the World by Air Transport Research Society. General Manager Ben DeCosta was named Best Airport Director by Airport Revenue News magazine.

February 2008

Forbes magazine names Hartsfield-Jackson the No. 1 airport in the nation for WiFi connectivity.

March 2009

• Hartsfield-Jackson Concessions program wins the Atlanta Business Chronicle Best in Real Estate: 2008 Deal of the Year award in the Retail category.
• Hartsfield-Jackson receives Airport Revenue News’ 2009 Best Concessions Management Team award.

April 2009

• Aviation General Manager Ben DeCosta named “Man of the Year” by Atlanta Tribune.
• Hartsfield-Jackson’s cargo operation receives Air Cargo World’s Award of Excellence.

May 2009

• Hartsfield-Jackson was recognized as Air Cargo Week’s “Airport of the Year.”
• Airport appoints its first chief financial officer, Milton M. Castillo.

June 2009

 

The Air Transport Research Society recognizes Hartsfield-Jackson with its Award of Excellence for Efficiency.

July 2009

• The Air Transport Research Society recognizes Hartsfield-Jackson with its Award of Excellence for Efficiency.
• Hartsfield-Jackson sets a world record for monthly flight operations (88,408).

September 2009

• The Air Transport Research Society recognizes Hartsfield-Jackson with its Award of Excellence for Efficiency.
• Hartsfield-Jackson sets a world record for monthly flight operations (88,408).

October 2009

• Alaska Airlines begins service at Hartsfield-Jackson.
• Aviation General Manager Ben DeCosta is appointed to the Airports Council International World Governing Board.

November 2009

• Hartsfield-Jackson launches a new recycling program, GreenSortATL.
• The Airport’s new dog park opens.
• Hartsfield-Jackson receives the Airport Safety Mark of Distinction award from the Federal Aviation Administration Southern Region, Airports Division.
• The Airport’s Concessions unit wins the Airports Council International–North America’s Best Convenience Retail Program award in the large airport category and the 2009 Concessions Person of the Year (director of Concessions).

December 2009

• Hartsfield-Jackson’s new rental car center and ATL SkyTrain open to the public.
• Hartsfield-Jackson Chief Information Officer Lance Lyttle is named to the 50 Most Important African-Americans in Technology list by eAccess Corp., a San Francisco-based publisher.

 

2010

• February 2010
  Hartsfield-Jackson and Lufthansa Cargo officials announce the carrier will begin using a Boeing 777 freighter on its weekly, nonstop service between Atlanta and Frankfurt Germany.
• March 2010
  Hartsfield-Jackson earns Air Cargo World Magazine’s Award of Excellence for North American cargo operations for airports that handled 500,000 to 999,999 tons per year.
• March 2010

For the 12th consecutive year, Hartsfield-Jackson retains its title as the world’s busiest airport.

• June 2010

Hartsfield-Jackson wins Air Cargo Week’s prestigious World Air Cargo Award for Airport of the Year for the second year in a row.

• June 2010

For the eighth year in a row, the Air Transport Research Society recognizes Hartsfield-Jackson’s world leadership in airport efficiency with the Global Airport Efficiency Excellence Award: a reflection of Hartsfield-Jackson’s productivity, efficiency and low costs, including the lowest passenger costs for the airlines.

• July 2010
  Robert W. Kennedy is named interim general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson.
• August 2010
  President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, visit his exhibit for the first time, “Jimmy Carter: Georgia’s Native Son,” at Hartsfield-Jackson.
• September 2010

Louis Miller is named general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson.

• October 2010

Hartsfield-Jackson launches Airport’s website, www.atlanta-airport.com. Available from any mobile device with internet capabilities the site includes information about flights, parking, security wait times, concessions and more.

2011

• February 2011
  A Ferrari and the latest Italian designer leather goods and fashions land aboard the inaugural Cargoitalia flight as it arrives at Hartsfield-Jackson.
• March 2011
  Airport Revenue News awards ATL the 2011 prestigious Best Airport & Concessionaire Awards at its annual Revenue Conference & Exhibition to Hartsfield-Jackson.
• March 2011

For the 13th consecutive year, Hartsfield-Jackson retains its title as the world’s busiest airport

• March 2011

Hartsfield-Jackson receives federal authorization to serve as a port of entry for flights to and from Cuba.

• May 2011

For third straight year, Hartsfield-Jackson’s cargo operations wins Air Cargo Week’s prestigious World Air Cargo Award’s Airport of the Year.

• June 2011

Executive Travel magazine names Hartsfield-Jackson as a top U.S. airport for 2011 with the Leading Edge Award.

• June 2011

For the ninth year in a row, the Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) recognizes Hartsfield-Jackson’s world leadership in airport efficiency.

• November 2011

Mayor Kasim Reed welcomes British Airways World Cargo’s new Boeing 747-8F service into Hartsfield-Jackson.

 

2012

• February 2012

Hartsfield-Jackson welcomes Southwest Airlines for service.

• February 2012

Hartsfield-Jackson welcomes Air France 747 freighter.

• April 2012

Hartsfield-Jackson welcomes Air Germany Cargo for service.

• May 2012

International travelers are welcomed to the newly opened Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal.

• June 2012

Hartsfield-Jackson welcomes AeroMexico for service.

• June 2012

For the 14th consecutive year, Hartsfield-Jackson retains its title as the world’s busiest airport

• June 2012

Hartsfield-Jackson welcomes Silver Airways for service.

• June 2012

Hartsfield-Jackson wins Airport of the Year from Air Cargo Week.

• June 2012

Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) ranks ATL as most efficient airport in North America for 10^th consecutive year.

• July 2012

Hartsfield-Jackson is named the Best Domestic Airport by Executive Travel magazine as part of the publication’s Leading Edge Awards.

• July 2012

A 500-foot extension of Runway 27R, the Airport’s longest runway, opens to aircraft traffic, adding to Hartsfield-Jackson’s efficiency.

• August 2012

Hartsfield-Jackson officials unveiled “A Walk Through Atlanta History,” a unique multimedia installation that chronicles Atlanta’s progress through eight key time periods.

• September 2012

Hartsfield-Jackson’s Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal wins 2012 Award of Excellence from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Atlanta.

• September 2012

Hartsfield-Jackson expands Concourse D midpoint.

• October 2012

Air Cargo Germany begins service at Hartsfield-Jackson.

• December 2012

Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal earns LEED Gold certification.

2013

• January 2013

Hartsfield-Jackson is voted No. 1 for amenities by Travel Leaders Groups’ annual Travel Trends Survey.

• February 2013

For 15 consecutive years, Hartsfield-Jackson has retained the title of world’s busiest airport (2012).

• June 2013

Fitch Rating affirms Hartsfield-Jackson Airport’s PFC hybrid bonds rated A+ for the fifth year in a row.

• September 2013

Hartsfield-Jackson celebrates the arrival of Korean Air’s Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft.

• October 2013

At The Moodie Reports’s 3^rd Annual Airport Food and Beverage Awards and Conference, Hartsfield-Jackson wins the Airport Food and Beverage Award for Best Food Courts in the World.

• November 2013

Hartsfield-Jackson and the U.S Department of Agriculture celebrate the opening of a new inspection plant. At 16,000-square feet, the plant is triple the size of the previous facility and the second largest inspection plant in the U.S.

• December 2013

Miguel Southwell is named interim general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson.

2014

• February 2014

The USO at ATL and the Department of Aviation celebrates the USO’s 73^rd year of lifting the spirits and providing comfort to the U.S. troops and their families in a ceremony.

• March 2014

Atlanta Aerotropolis Alliance, comprised of leaders from the region’s public and private sector, launches to maximize the economic impact of Hartsfield-Jackson.

• April 2014

For 16 consecutive years, Hartsfield-Jackson has retained the title of world’s busiest airport (2013).

• April 2014

Hartsfield-Jackson officials refunded $877 million of bonds originally sold to finance capital improvement. When sold, the bonds achieved a present value savings of $73.6 million.

• June 2014

Miguel Southwell is named general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson.

• July 2014

Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) ranks ATL as most efficient airport in North America for 11th year.

• October 2014

Hartsfield-Jackson wins Large Hub Inclusion Champion Award from Airports Council International (ACI).

• October 2014

Hartsfield-Jackson welcomes Virgin Atlantic Airways’ inaugural flight.

• November 2014

ATL wins Travel + Leisure’s 2014 Global Vision Leadership Award for reducing energy consumption throughout the Airport and other “greening” efforts.

2015

• April 2015

For 17 consecutive years, Hartsfield-Jackson has retained the title of world’s busiest airport (2014).

• June 2015

Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) ranks ATL as most efficient airport in North America for 12^th year.

• June 2015

In another validation of the Airport’s operations, ATL achieved zero discrepancies in its annual FAA inspection.

• July 2015

Hartsfield-Jackson is named Favorite Airport in North American by Trazee Travel.

• July 2015

Hartsfield-Jackson reopens newly renovated USO facility, which includes food and beverage hospitality suite and banks of computer workstations.

• July 2015

The Airport’s General Airport Revenue Bonds (GARBS) were upgraded from A+ to AA-.

• September 2015
  To help make Hartsfield-Jackson even more secure, a comprehensive security-screening program was implemented for nearly all Airport employees.
• September 2015
  ATL became the first airport in the world to have an all LED fixture airfield after upgrading halogen lamps in more than 16,000 runway and taxiway fixtures to energy-efficient LEDs throughout the Airport’s airfields.
• October 2015

Hartsfield-Jackson strengthened its position as one of the region’s top corporate citizens by partnering with United Way of Metro Atlanta to conduct the inaugural Mayor’s 5K on the 5^th Runway. This first-ever event raised more than $128,000.

• November 2015
  ATL hosts first Taste of Hartsfield-Jackson, offering the public a festival of delicious food from 30 Airport concessionaires pre-security.
• December 2015

Four new all-cargo airlines begin operations at Hartsfield-Jackson.

• December 2015

On the path toward becoming one of the world’s greenest airports, Hartsfield-Jackson becomes the first airport in the world to earn the ISO 15000 certification for effective energy management programs.

• December 2015

Hartsfield-Jackson completed its industry-leading concessions expansion program. Nearly 150 new food and beverage, retail and service locations were opened in 2015 with year-over-year increased revenue.

• December 2015
  Hartsfield-Jackson becomes the first airport in the world to serve 100 million guests in a calendar year.

 2016

• March 2016
  Hartsfield-Jackson unveiled the Airport’s future development in a multibillion-dollar master plan. This capital improvement plan will provide the blueprint for the next 20 years at Hartsfield-Jackson.
• April 2016

For 18 consecutive years, Hartsfield-Jackson has retained the title of world’s busiest airport (2015).

• April 2016
  The City of Atlanta entered into a new lease agreement between Hartsfield-Jackson and Delta Air Lines, bolstering the Airport’s position as the economic jewel of Georgia. The deal keeps the airline’s corporate headquarters in Atlanta through 2036.

• May 2016

Roosevelt Council is named interim general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson.

• June 2016

Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) ranks ATL as most efficient airport in North America for 13^th year.

 

• July 2016

Hartsfield-Jackson is named Favorite Airport in North America by Trazee Travel.

• August 2016
  Hartsfield-Jackson records the lowest passenger screening wait times in seven years.

• October 2016

Hartsfield-Jackson relaunches Airport’s website, www.atl.com with modern design, improved user features, and a robust site map.

• October 2016
  ATL hosts its first fall job fair, hiring 90 applicants on the spot.

• November 2016
  Hartsfield-Jackson is the first airport in the world to register as an EcoDistrict. ATL expected to complete certification by 2022.

• December 2016

In an effort to support greening initiatives, 302 electric vehicle chargers were installed throughout ATL’s campus.

2017

• January 2017
  Roosevelt Council is named general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson.
• January 2017

ATL tops $1 billion in concessions sales in 2016.

• February 2017
  BBC and PBS air “City in the Sky,” a multipart documentary that uncovered the best of ATL to millions of viewers and showcased the Airport’s efforts to maintain efficiency during the busiest travel period of the year.

• March 2017

ATL receives StormReady designation by the National Weather Service after demonstrating weather-ready preparedness.

• March 2017

Hartfield-Jackson receives Governor’s Awards for the Arts’ Visual and Performing Arts Award for the Airport Art Program.

• April 2017

For 19 consecutive years, Hartsfield-Jackson has retained the title of world’s busiest airport (2016).

• May 2017
  ATL becomes the first airport in the nation to install automated screening lanes, or Smart Lanes, at security checkpoints.
• June 2017
  Hartsfield-Jackson salutes the 40^th anniversary of the United Service Organization (USO) – Georgia at ATL with a ceremony.
• June 2017

Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) ranks ATL as most efficient airport in North America for 14^th year.

• July 2017

Hartsfield-Jackson is named favorite Airport in North America by Trazee Travel.

• July 2017

Hartsfield-Jackson is named Favorite Airport Dining by Trazee Travel.

• August 2017

Hartsfield-Jackson opens seven new Service Animal Relief Areas throughout the facility,

2018

• March 2018
  USA Today’s 10Best names ATL Skypointe the Best Airport for Dining and Shopping.

• April 2018

For 20 consecutive years, Hartsfield-Jackson has retained the title of world’s busiest airport (2017).

• June 2018

Balram Bheodari is named interim general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson.

• June 2018

Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) ranks ATL as most efficient airport in North America for 15^th year.

• July 2018

Airport Guest Relations Director Steve Mayers wins Civil Rights Advocate and Partner ADA/Sec. 504 Award.

• July 2018

ATL wins Favorite Airport Dining by Trazee Travel.

• July 2018

ATL wins Favorite Airport in North America by Trazee Travel.

• October 2018

John Selden, a former JFK Airport executive, is named general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson.

• November 2018

Upgraded Points ranks ATL the No. 2 Pet-friendly airport in the U.S.

• November 2018
  The Wall Street Journal ranks ATL among its top 5 Biggest and Best Airports.

2019

• April 2019

For 21 consecutive years, Hartsfield-Jackson has retained the title of world’s busiest airport (2018).

• June 2019

Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) ranks ATL as most efficient airport in North America for 16^th year.

• July 2019

ATL wins OAG Mega Hub Award for most on-time airport in North America.

• July 2019

Hartsfield-Jackson is named Favorite Airport in North America by Trazee Travel.

• August 2019

ATL is the first airport in the world to receive LEED for Communities Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Hartsfield-Jackson achieved a Platinum rating, the highest possible designation.

• September 2019

ATL completes construction of two massive, illuminated canopies covering the north and south roadways alongside the Domestic Terminal.

• December 2019

ATL receives record 110 million passengers in a single year (2019), more than any airport in history.

2020

• January 2020
  Hartsfield-Jackson wins the Envision Silver Award for the Taxiway and Runway 9L Replacement Project. It was awarded by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, which measures infrastructure across the full range of environmental, social and economic impacts.

• February 2020
  ATL’s Landside Modernization Project (LMOD) earns two Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) South Atlantic Chapter Project Achievement Awards. The awards were Transportation Project Greater than $200M and the Board Choice Award.

• April 2020

For 22 consecutive years, Hartsfield-Jackson has retained the title of world’s busiest airport (2019).

• July 2020

Hartsfield-Jackson wins the Federal Aviation Administration’s Southern Region’s Air Carrier Safety Award for ATL’s enhancements to the Wildlife Strike Reporting Program and further advancement of the use of geospatial data to track and maintain airfield lighting and signage.

• July 2020
  Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) ranks ATL as most efficient airport in North America for 17^th year.

• August 2020

Hartsfield-Jackson wins the Community Impact Award by the U.S. Green Building Council Georgia for the Airport’s commitment to prioritizing sustainability standards within all planning, design, and construction projects.

• September 2020

The Association for Commuter Transportation awards ATL for its AERO Insider Carpool Parking Program, which offers deeply discounted parking perks for participants in the carpooling effort.

• December 2020

Hartsfield-Jackson receives accreditation in the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation program. The program provides airports with an assessment of how aligned their health measures are with the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and the International Civil Aviation Organization Council’s Aviation Recovery Task Force recommendations, along with industry best practices.

2021

• January 2021

Hartsfield-Jackson earns the 2020 Malcolm Mitchell Trailblazer Award by the Page Turners Make Great Learners organization. Named for Super Bowl champion and author Malcolm Mitchell, the Malcom Mitchell Trailblazer Award recognizes organizations and individuals who are carving out new paths to literacy.

• February 2021

Hartsfield-Jackson wins The Voice of the Customer recognition by Airports Council International (ACI) by demonstrating significant efforts in gathering passenger feedback during the pandemic through the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Departures survey.

• March 2021

Hartsfield-Jackson wins two awards from Airports Council International’s Airport Service Quality Awards: Best Airport by Size and Region, and Best Hygiene Measures by Region.

• April 2021

Balram Bheodari is named interim general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson.

Hartsfield-Jackson is named the busiest passenger traffic airport in the United States and busiest in the world based on operations.

Hartsfield-Jackson is awarded the Virtual Training Excellence Award by American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).

• June 2021

Hartsfield-Jackson wins a U.S. Green Building Council Regional Leadership Award for prioritizing sustainability in its multibillion-dollar capital improvement program, ATLNext, and creating a robust sustainability program to support those efforts.

Balram Bheodari is named general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson.

Hartsfield-Jackson is named Airport of the Year by Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC).

• July 2021

Hartsfield-Jackson won the 2021 Airports Council International-North America (ACI) Inclusion Champion Award – Large Hub Airport for proactive and innovative steps taken in increasing diverse business partners, workforce diversity, outreach and advocacy.

• August 2021

Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) ranks ATL as most efficient airport in North America for 18^th year.

• September 2021

Hartsfield-Jackson received an Airport News and Training Network (ANTN) Digicast Excellence in Airport Award for Training Excellence – Large Hub.

• December 2021

Hartsfield-Jackson received the 2021 Airports Council International-North America (ACI) Concessions Large Airport Adaptability Award for demonstrating adaptability and versatility to maintain a safe concessions program while preserving the customer experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022

• January 2022

Hartsfield-Jackson Hartsfield-Jackson launches new multijurisdictional human trafficking collaborative, “Not in My County.” The collaboration between ATL and the Airport community brings dedicated resources to fight human trafficking throughout the region.

• February 2022

Hartsfield-Jackson earned the Goodr’s Food Waste Partner of the Year award. For four years, the Airport has partnered with local nonprofit Goodr to repurpose edible surplus food. Through this partnership and ATL’s Food Recovery Program, the Airport has provided 134,000 meals to 29 shelters and nonprofit organizations in the metro Atlanta area.

• March 2022

For the second consecutive year, ATL earned the prestigious 2021 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award for “Best Airport by Size and Region (over 40 million passengers per year in North America).” Awarded by Airports Council International (ACI), the ASQ Awards recognize airport excellence in customer experience worldwide, based on data collected from ASQ departure and arrival surveys.

Hartsfield-Jackson is named the world’s busiest airport in passengers and flight operations (2021).

• July 2022

ATL earned the Sandy Wright/Richard Dolbeer Excellence in Strike Reporting award (2021).

• September 2022

For the second consecutive year, Hartsfield-Jackson received an Airport News and Training Network (ANTN) Digicast Excellence in Airport Award for Training Excellence – Large Hub.

2023

• January 2023

Airport Business magazine awarded Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with a 2023 Airport Business Project of the Year for Airside Civil for its South Deicing Complex Ramp and Support Operations.

• March 2023

For the third consecutive year, Hartsfield-Jackson received the Global Traveler WhereverFamily Award for Best Family Friendly Airport Shopping.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport earned Airport Council International’s 2022 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award for Best Airport Arrivals Globally.

• April 2023

Airports Council International announced on April 5 that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport again landed as the world’s busiest airport in 2022. ATL served 93,699,630 passengers, a 23.8 percent increase over 2021’s total. ATL also tops the world in aircraft movements, with 724,145 operations, a 2.3 percent increase since 2021.

• May 2023

Food & Wine Magazine’s Global Tastemakers list named ATL as a first-time recipient of Food & Wine’s Global Tastemakers Awards. In this inaugural list, Food & Wine highlights the best places to eat and drink around the world. This elite list includes establishments that create an extraordinary travel experience.