More than 4 million passengers expected to travel through world’s busiest airport; ATL again expected to exceed 100 million passengers in a single year
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials are working closely with Airport stakeholders to host more than 4.2 million passengers during the holiday period that runs from Friday, Dec. 16 to Tuesday, Jan. 3. In addition, if projections hold true, ATL is expected to surpass 2015’s single-year total of 101.4 million passengers. Projected traffic numbers have determined that Friday, Dec. 23, Friday, Dec. 30, Monday, Jan. 2 and Thursday, Jan. 5 to be among the busiest travel days of the holiday season.
ATL leaders — working with partners at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), mainline and regional airlines and Airport concessionaires — have taken steps to ensure passengers have a safe, efficient and enjoyable experience while visiting the world’s busiest and most efficient airport. Staffing levels have increased among ATL guest services representatives, airline partners and TSA security officers to assist passengers and guests. There are now five Automated Screening Lanes (ASLs) at screening points to decrease security wait times, and all checkpoints will open earlier to facilitate passenger transit.
Construction work on ATLNext, the $6 billion capital improvement project underway at the Airport, will be minimized during the holiday period to ease traffic concerns; additionally, Atlanta police and ATL ground transportation personnel will manage traffic on roadways at the Airport.
Travelers are urged to arrive at ATL at least two hours before scheduled domestic flight departure times and 2 1/2 hours before international flights. Passengers should keep informed through their specific airline’s website or mobile app and Hartsfield-Jackson’s atl.com and iFlyATL mobile app. The free iFlyATL app is available for download and provides updates on parking, security wait times, flight information and concessions options.
Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) is the world’s most traveled and most efficient airport, serving more than 101 million passengers annually with nonstop service to more than 150 U.S. destinations and nearly 70 international destinations in more than 45 countries. ATL boasts a direct economic impact of $34.8 billion in metro Atlanta and a total direct economic impact of $70.9 billion in Georgia. The Airport is the largest employer in Georgia, with more than 63,000 employees. The Airport is a frequent recipient of awards of excellence for concessions, operations, sustainability, architectural engineering, and construction. ATL is now in the midst of a $6 billion capital improvement plan, ATL Next, that will modernize the domestic terminal and concourses, create new parking decks, construct a 300-room hotel, Class A commercial office space, add a new runway, a new concourse and expand cargo facilities. For more information, go to www.atl.com.