Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has held the title of “busiest airport in the world” since 1998 (OK, OK, except for 2020, when Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport temporarily usurped it because of everything happening due to the Covid pandemic. But by 2021, ATL was the busiest airport again).
And it’s not like ATL got the title in 1998 and rested on its laurels, either. Nope, it’s been growing steadily ever since. Looking at non-Covid years:
- 2019: 110.5 million passengers (CNN)
- 2014: more than 96 million passengers (CNN)
- 2006: 85.5 million passengers (Forbes)
And although ATL still hasn’t reached its 2019 high yet (it handled 93.7 million passengers in 2022), it’s still enough to maintain its status as the world’s busiest airport.
That continued growth of passengers means changes in how airport officials handle the activities and requirements of said passengers. Not surprisingly, ATL, like any large facility, continually has projects – either for maintenance or improvement – and vast plans for the future. They keep interested parties abreast about these on their webpage.
To that end, since May of 2022, ATL has been in the midst of a 2-year, $66 million project at its main security checkpoint, including an overhaul of Transportation Security Administration screening equipment. The goal was to integrate it with the technology used at the south checkpoint. The improvements include:
- replacing 19 security screening machines with Analogic CT machines
- ceiling and lighting enhancements
- upgrades and modifications to the electrical and mechanical system
While the project has been going on, the main checkpoint has been, well, something of a cluster, if you know what I mean.
PC: u/gatetechgnome/Reddit / Oct. 8, 2023: “At least 200-300 people in line! Never seen anything like no like this in the past 10+ years.”
Local news outlets frequently reported long waits, with queues backed up through the atrium and into the baggage claim area. It even reached the point that a Georgia Senator pressed the airport to reduce the wait times.
Although I doubt the Senator’s request had much to do with it, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has inadvertently given a holiday gift to all its passengers – the $66 million construction project is FINISHED. As of Thursday, December 14th at 5 am, ALL of the checkpoint lanes are open.
And get this – they finished it 4 months early! It wasn’t scheduled to end until April 2024.
Airport officials estimate they’ll now be able to process about 600 more travelers per hour. Those newly reopened lanes are probably particularly welcome right now since the holiday rush is due to start later this week, when the airport projects more than 3.3 million passengers to, from or through it between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2.
Happy holidays, ATL passengers!
Feature Photo (cropped): ATL
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2 comments
What about TSA staffing levels? Lots of lanes but no officers to work them is just as problematic.
What about the terminals-and gate areas? They have been torn up for years in at least T-A-B C- terminals with the ceilings open ??? Any end to that