A Guide to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Popularly known as Atlanta International Airport, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was awarded as the world’s busiest airport in the year 2012.
The airport is the busiest in the world in terms of passenger traffic as well as the number of flights starting from here.
The airport has a total of 207 domestic and international gates.
Not only this, the airport has attained the sixth position in terms of the international gateway in the United States.
Also, the airport has its services extended to various international destinations including:
- Asia
- South America
- Central America
- North America
- Europe
- Africa
Airport Location
Atlanta International Airport is the primary international airport that serves Atlanta.
Covering a total area of 4,700 acres, the area is located at a distance of 11 km to the South of Downtown Atlanta district.
When you book flights to India from Atlanta, you will notice that the airport is the primary hub for Delta Air Lines.
Moreover, the airport is the focus city for various low-cost airlines like Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.
Not only this, the airport is the home for Delta’s Technical Operations Center.
Atlanta International Airport Terminals
You can quickly locate various advanced services for ticketing, check-in, and baggage claim within the airport premises with ease.
And when it comes to airport terminals, they are well equipped with passenger facilities.
The Atlanta International Airport has six concourses that have all the flight gates and other significant facilities.
Also, it has two terminals one for the domestic traffic and the other for international flights from Atlanta to India.
- Atlanta Airport Domestic Terminal
The domestic terminal of the airport is located on the western side of the airport and is further divided into two parts.
The North Terminal contains the ticketing, baggage claim areas, as well as the check-in options for International as well as domestic carriers.
However, the South Terminal takes care of the ticketing, baggage claim areas as well as the check-in options for flight linked with Delta Air Lines and its partner service providers.
Both the North and the South terminal are connected through an Atrium. This is a large seating area containing many facilities.
- Atlanta Airport International Terminal
When you book your international flight tickets to India from the USA, your flights will take off from this terminal of the airport.
The terminal is located at the opposite end of the airport. Concourses E and F take care of the international as well as some of the domestic flights taking off from the airport.
However, concourses T and A-D handle the departure and arrival of international flights that are pre-cleared.
- Concourses at the Atlanta International Airport
The gates for the airport are located in seven concourses situated between the international and domestic terminals. Information associated with the concourses is mentioned below:
- A Concourse: It has a total of 29 Gates and serves Delta Air Lines
- B Concourse: It has 32 gates and serves Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines
- C Concourse: It has 48 gates serving AirTran Airways, ASA, and Comair
- D Concourse: This concourse has 43 gates and takes care of arrival and departure of America West Airlines, US Airways, Air Canada, Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, etc.
- E Concourse: The concourse E of the airport has 28 gates for domestic and international flights for multiple destinations.
- F Concourse: Having a total of 12 gates, Concourse F of the airport serves the international traffic for Atlanta Airport.
- T Concourse: This concourse has 17 gates and handles Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.
Latest Developments in Atlanta International Airport
In the year 2015, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has become the world’s most handled airport.
And not only in terms of passengers’ traffic but the facilities offered by the airport has made it an efficient travel center.
In the year 2015, the Atlanta International Airport served non-stop flights to 150 destinations within the United States and 70 destinations worldwide in 45 different countries.
ATL airport has the lowest operating cost in the United States with exceptional infrastructure and an efficient layout.
Also, it has five parallel runways, an impressive airfield capacity with round the clock services.
To meet the requirement for efficiency and provide robust services to the passengers,
the airport has developed strategies for its passenger as well as cargo operations.
Some of the significant elements of the program focus on the advancement of the facilities, including the functional upgrades in the concourses and improving the overall guest experience after you have taken flights from Atlanta to India.
Also, when it comes to cargo facilities, the airport is planning to construct a 100,000 sq foot warehouse for cargo.
This is, in addition, to already existing 560,000 sq foot space in South Cargo facility, a fumigation chamber, 42,000 sq feet computer-controlled refrigerator storage, perishable complex, and a cold treatment center.
Transportation at Atlanta International Airport
Commuting to and from the airport can be done through various modes. These include:
- By Car Rentals
You can easily avail of the car rental services at the Car Rental Center at the onsite.
You can locate the same just a few minutes away from the terminal once you land from flights to the USA.
Also, Some of the leading agencies offering car rentals at the Atlanta International Airport are Alamo, Budget, Advantage, Dollar, E-Z, Avis, National, Thrifty, etc.
- By Bus
MARTA bus 191 is the only bus that serves the airport route presently.
However, the bus moves to and from Clayton County Justice Center on fixed timings that are 5:00 AM and 1:00 AM on weekdays and 12:30 AM on holidays and weekends.
- By Taxi
You can quickly locate the taxis at the Yellow Bus Aisle.
Although the taxis run on meters, you can be lucky enough to get them booked at special fares when it comes to traveling from the airport to Central Business District.
- By Train
MATRA transit rail system helps the passengers to travel between the airport and the city. These rails are easy to board and fast.
Moreover, they carry the passengers from domestic as well as international terminals of the Atlanta International Airport.
The train follows a fixed route that includes the Airport, Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead. Also, it operates between 5:00 AM and 1:00 AM.
- By Hotel shuttles
Many hotels in Atlanta offer free shuttle service to and from Atlanta.
You can locate the respective shuttle outside the Ground Transportation once you reach at the airport from your flights to the USA.
This area is present near the domestic terminal. If you are coming from the International terminal,
you can reach the Ground Transportation via shuttle bus from the airport for free.
Passengers Security
TSA might use some risk-based measures for identifying, mitigating, and resolving potential threats when it comes to the security of the passengers at various Airport Security Checkpoints.
- Automated Screening Lanes
You can easily navigate through the automated screening lanes at the Atlanta International Airport very easily.
Also, you can load the bin with your items that you wish to carry on your flight ticket bookings to India.
Make sure that you keep nothing over the laptops and remove all the liquids. You can quickly push the bins on to the conveyor belt that has its tracking mechanism to safeguard your valuables.
In case of additional screening of the content, the items will be automatically diverted to another conveyor for inspection.
- TSA PreCheck
If you wish to register for TSA PreCheck you can, you can sign up at the airport’s PreCheck enrollment center in the ticketing area of South Terminal and Concourse A.
This expedited screening program allows passengers traveling from Atlanta International Airport to wear their items like shoes, jackets, etc.
- Global Entry Programs
This feature at the ATL allows frequent international travelers to easy clearance through automated kiosks.
If you are a registered member, you will have to go through biometric verification for status confirmation.
Other Facilities
- Free Wi-Fi
You can avail of the facility of free Wi-Fi at the Atlanta International Airport.
All you need to do is to connect the device to ‘ATL free Wi-Fi’ and enjoy unlimited free movies, music, and videos.
Also, there are several internet stations at the terminals and lounges of the airport.
- Baby Care
The airport offers special nursing rooms for nursing mothers and babies.
Moreover, you can also locate private pods at various locations within the airport.
- Art Program
Also, the airport holds art programs, exhibitions for paintings, sculptures, and photographs within its premises.
Not only this, it has several music series and performance concerts in the Atrium.
- ATMs and Cash Machines
If you have visited Atlanta by taking cheap air tickets to the USA, you can use many cash machines and ATMs throughout the airside and landside areas of the airport.
- Foods and Drinks
McDonald’s and IHOP are the two food options that remain open all through the day.
Moreover, out of which McDonald’s is located at the airside. Also, the IHOP at the baggage claim area in the main terminal.
- Smoking Area
You can find special smoking areas at the airport. These are present at T3, A Center (Upper Level), T12, B7, B24, C17, C28, E8, E16, E29, Heineken Bars & Grill, and at Sojourner Lounge (D5).
- Travelers Aid
This facility at the airport helps the passengers in various instances.
These are landing at the wrong airport, lost or stolen money, emergency housing, and assistance with transportation, etc.
You can check the services available at the Atlanta International Airport before you book your flights from Atlanta to India at reasonable airfares.