š« 12 Ace Facts about Atlanta International Airport
Ever flown out of Georgia state before? Thereās a good chance youāve seen the inside of Atlanta International Airport, or the AIA, before. Itās responsible for helping to fly millions of people to and from the states every single year – and thereās a fascinating history behind it. Here are some fun facts about Atlanta International Airport that might just prove surprising.
1. Thereās more to the name than you might think.
The full name of the AIA is a bit of a tongue-twister. Itās officially called the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport of Atlanta. Now you know why they shortened it!
2. Itās well-known for being crammed with people!
Itās widely regarded as one of the busiest airports on the planet, and was initially called the ābusiest airportā all the way back in 1942. Very little changes!
3. International flights only started here from the early 70s.
The AIA first started serving international flights, as it happens, as late as 1971 – even then, they only flew to Mexico and back!
4. Itās a huge employer in Georgia state.
The AIA is responsible for employing more than 60,000 people at the time of writing!
5. Youāre normally able to get to AIA pretty easily – inside the US.
The AIA is built in an amazingly accessible location. Oddly enough, itās thought that up to 80% of people in the USA can get to and from the airport in just two hours. Is it any wonder this central airport is so popular?
6. Itās a gate world record holder!
Itās a pretty sizeable airport, too, all told. Itās home to 195 different gates – no airport has as many! Whatās more, the AIA has five different runways.
7. Its name isnāt necessarily telling us the truth.
Believe it or not, itās not actually in Atlanta, Georgia. Itās based around seven miles to the south of the state capital – so the nameās a misnomer!
8. The airportās always expanding.
The airport has grown massively over the decades, perhaps no more so than pre WWII, when itās thought the scope and size of the AIA helped to oversee more than 1,700 flights.
9. Terminal sizes know no bounds!
The AIA brought forward the USā biggest airline terminal in 1961 – it cost $21 million to build and was said to help more than six million passengers.
10. It was a popular airport from the get-go.
Millions of people have been using the AIA for a long time. During its very first year of operation, it welcomed more than nine and a half million passengers alone – incredible!
11. What is the Sky Train?
The system known as the Sky Train is used to help people get to and from the convention center, the airport, and car rental spots. Itās extremely useful considering thereās so much distance covered!
12. Just how big is Atlanta Airport?
The AIA is enormous – including its concourses and terminals, the airport covers around 6.8 million square feet!
13. Itās an efficient transport hub.
The AIA prides itself not only on the number of passengers it caters to and not only its size – but also its efficiency. For many years now, itās been known as the most efficient airport on the planet.

ATL’s air traffic control tower
FAQs about Atlanta International Airport
Is Atlantaās airport the biggest in the USA?
No - itās smaller than Denver International Airport, which covers an amazing 137 square km.
Why is Atlanta Airport always so busy?
There are a few reasons - itās home base of the enormously popular Delta Airlines, as well as being the most central airport in the country.
Are there two commercial airports in Atlanta?
No - but plans were considered over several years to develop a second commercial base at Paulding Regional.
Do you know any interesting facts about Atlanta International Airport? Share them in the comments below!
This page was last modified on April 23, 2022. Suggest an edit