Atlanta in Flight The History of Aviation in ATL
By Erin Lannen As a traveler, you might know it as the world’s busiest airport, a title Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has earned since 1998. As residents in the ATL Airport District, we know it as the heartbeat of Atlanta’s Southside. What grew from a tiny seed of land initially used for a dirt racetrack in 1909 is now a living, breathing force that directly impacts Metro Atlanta’s economy to the tune of $34.8 billion and over $70 billion for the state of Georgia. The airport is also the single largest job provider for Georgia with over 63,000 total employees and approximately 400,000 additional workers across Metro Atlanta.
The history surrounding the airport and Atlanta’s mark on aviation is palpable, largely due to a set of Atlanta mayors who had the vision to make aviation a dynamic part of the city. The foundation they built supports continued improvement, including a 20-year development program, ATLNext, which began work in 2016. ATLNext includes six projects designed to enhance capacity, create more jobs, foster economic growth, and bring ATL into a new era of innovation. Big Dreams. Bigger Reality. Above: Rendering of Airport Terminal by ATLNext
Decades ago, city officials recognized the innovation potential through air travel and envisioned Atlanta to be at the helm of advancement. Although many people were
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