5 Milestones From Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s Long History

-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) started life as Candler Field back in September 1926. Since then, the airport, which is located 10 miles south of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, has ballooned. Its growth has been so vast that the facility is now the largest airport in the world, processing more than 104.6 million passengers in 2023.

The airport’s history is unique and varied, ranging from several name changes to opening what was the world’s largest terminal complex. What are some of the key milestones from the past 98 years?

1

Humble beginnings

From The Atlanta Speedway to Candler Field

On April 16, 1925, the City of Atlanta signed a five-year lease for an abandoned racetrack formerly known as The Atlanta Speedway. The intention was to develop the 287-acre site into an airfield, and the agreement saw the site renamed Candler Field after its owner and former Mayor of Atlanta, Asa Candler.

With commercial aviation in its infancy, Candler wanted to capitalize on the airfield’s potential. The first flight to touch down at Candler Field was a Florida Airways mail flight from Jacksonville on September 15, 1926. More than 15,000 spectators arrived to witness the historic arrival, but after just three months, the route was canceled due to operational challenges, leaving Candler Field temporarily without any commercial air service.

2

The arrival of Delta Air Services

The carrier would go on to dominate the airport

On June 12, 1930, Delta Air Services began operating from the facility, which had been known as Atlanta Municipal Airport for more than one year at this point. The route to Birmingham, Alabama was initially launched as a trial, but was made permanent after just six days. At the same time, the airport inaugurated its first passenger terminal building.

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

Delta Air Services would later go on to rebrand as Delta Air Lines, and today, the carrier is by far the largest operator at the airport, with a 72% market share in 2023. Delta Air Lines alone carried more than 64.8 million passengers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last year, with the carrier’s extensive domestic and international route network extending to destinations as far away as:

• Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
• Athens International Airport (ATH)
• Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
• São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)

Southwest Airlines (8 million passengers) and Spirit Airlines (4 million passengers) were the next-largest carriers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport last year. Major US legacy carriers such as American Airlines and United Airlines have a limited presence at the airport, due in part to the dominance of Delta Air Lines.

3

The airport’s various name changes

Paying homage to key Atlanta figures

Within only a few years of opening, Candler Field was renamed Atlanta Municipal Airport, a name that remained in place for forty years. on February 22, 1971, William B. Hartsfield died, and six days later, on what would have been the former Mayor’s 81st birthday, the airport was renamed William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Airport. However, just five months later, the name was updated once again to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, in recognition of the airport’s first international flights to Mexico City (MEX) and Montego Bay (MBJ), which were operated by Eastern Airlines.

In October 2003, the Atlanta City Council wanted to honor another of the city’s former Mayors, Maynard H. Jackson, and so incorporated his legacy into the airport’s new name – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. This name remains in place today. Both Hartsfield and Jackson played significant roles in the development of the airport, so it is only fitting that they are honored in this way.

4

The world’s largest airport terminal complex

Up to 55 million passengers

In 1980, the airport opened what was, at the time, the world’s largest airport terminal complex, which was capable of handling up to 55 million passengers. Construction of the mammoth project began in 1977 at a cost of $500 million, making it one of the country’s most expensive construction projects at the time.

The new terminal building, which measured 2.5 million square feet, cemented the airport’s position as one of the world’s major aviation hubs and was instrumental in the facility’s continued growth.

5

The busiest airport in the world

Since 1997

The airport’s growth continued over the subsequent years, bolstered further by a bumper year thanks to the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta. By February 1997, the facility had become the busiest airport in the world, with a staggering 73.5 million passengers. By 2015, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport had broken the 100 million passenger barrier for the first time.

Photo: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has managed to hold on to the title of the world’s busiest airport every year except for 2020, when it was narrowly beaten by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN). Last year, the top 5 looked like this:

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) – 104.6 million passengers
2. Dubai International Airport (DXB) – 87.0 million passengers
3. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – 81.8 million passengers
4. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) – 79.1 million passengers
5. Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) – 78.7 million passengers.

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What do you make of these five milestones in the history of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport? Share your thoughts and experiences of the airport by commenting below.