Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport serves 150 U.S. destinations and 75 international destinations in 50 countries averaging more than 250,000 passengers daily and housing more than 29.8 acres of air cargo warehouse space. In May 2012, the Airport unveiled the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal to the world. The new International Terminal will welcome millions ofinternational travelers for decades to come.
The opening of America’s new gateway to the world coincides with record numbers of international passengers and flight operations at Hartsfield-Jackson. In 2011, Hartsfield-Jackson welcomed 9.86 million international passengers — and the numbers are only growing. The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that Atlanta will handle more than 13 million international passengers by 2015.
The new Concourse F added 12 more gates to the 28 gates on Concourse E, which handled most of the Airport’s international flights. The resulting 40-gate international air travel complex has reduced the demand on existing facilities — such as baggage handling systems, The “Plane Train” automated people mover, and security checkpoints — and thus has made the airport experience faster and easier for domestic passengers, as well as those flying internationally.
This cutting-edge, LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) facility connects travelers from throughout the world with 160 U.S. destinations. For those traveling from the United States, the international terminal is the gateway to nearly 70 destinations in more than 45 countries.
The 1.2 million square foot terminal and concourse offer travelers several benefits:
The baggage recheck process was eliminated for Atlanta-bound passengers, who now simply collect their checked luggage and exit the building. There is a separate entrance to the international terminal from the interstate, and international travelers have their own parking facilities. Many world-class retail and food and beverage outlets are available in the international terminal, both before and after the security checkpoint.
An extension of the Airport’s sustainability program to the International Terminal, the program incorporates elements of recycling, water reclamation and conservation, carbon footprint reduction and energy conservation into an environmentally-friendly and celebrated venture. “The Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal has a focus on efficiency and customer-friendly design, so it will serve our international guests well now and in the future,” said Aviation General Manager Louis Miller.
Because all facets of international travel are separated from domestic operations, airport passengers are better utilizing Atlanta’s highway and transit systems to insure their departure from the correct terminal. Hartsfield-Jackson launched a free international shuttle connector service between the International and domestic terminal to assist passengers, especially those that find themselves at the wrong terminal. The shuttle also provides international travelers with access to MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit System), the ATL SkyTrain (an elevated train that connects passengers to the rental care center), and the City of Atlanta.
In addition to its many practical advantages, the International Terminal offers spectacular views of the airfield and features several large-scale art
installations that beautify the building. A City of Atlanta ordinance, passed in 1977, dedicates 1 percent of eligible capital construction budgets to the arts. The Airport Art Program has a solid reputation for displaying world-class art exhibits, which continues in the International Terminal. The pieces vary in materials and scope, and represent the finest artistic merit and vision that are sure to be enjoyed by passengers from around the world.
“We welcome you to Atlanta’s new global gateway and hope to impress you with our accessibility and stellar service.”
One of the most-talked-about installations is sure to be “airFIELD,” a suspended sculpture by Uebersee that resembles a bird in flight. The illusion of motion is produced by electronic pulses, which are synced to the movements of arriving and departing aircrafts, and flow through the piece’s 1,440 acrylic pixels, changing their transparency for a dramatic display of artistry
Another art installation serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. “Veneers” by Amy Landesberg is a vibrant wall of glass and metal that divides the pedestrian corridor between Concourses E and F. Each panel of the exhibit depicts wood grains from an extinct or endangered tree species in a stained-glass appearance, allowing light to cascade through it onto the walkways and bathe our international passengers in a rainbow of colors.
The expansion of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with the opening of the Maynard H. Jackson, Jr. International Terminal has amplified its economic impact in metropolitan area. We welcome you to Atlanta’s new global gateway and hope to impress you with our accessibility and stellar service.