The Busiest Airport In The Entire World Is Located In The United States
In the heart of the southeast, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) recently made headlines for welcoming more than 104 million passengers in 2023, according to Global Atlanta. Not only does the feat mark a near-complete recovery from the lows of the pandemic, but it also sets a new post-pandemic record across the globe. Atlanta has held the title of the busiest airport in the world for the last 23 of 24 years, according to Airports Council International, only surpassed by Guangzhou Bai Yun International Airport in China when traffic fell 97% in 2020.
Since that nightmare freefall that halted aviation everywhere, the airport has climbed the ranks to resume its place as king, boasting 775,818 takeoffs and landings last year — a staggering 2,204 per day. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens told Fox 5 Atlanta that the city-run airport is a source of pride, offering 63,000 jobs to residents and lucrative opportunities for businesses. It also keeps Atlanta on the radar as an international destination and gateway to the world, with 12.8 million international travelers passing through in 2023 (another record). With new airlines expanding operations and more routes from existing carriers, Atlanta's status as an air traffic powerhouse is unlikely to waver anytime soon.
Atlanta's carriers and destinations
Atlanta's popularity boils down to two main factors: a lack of competing regional airports and its geography, making the city a convenient hop to other destinations. With 152 domestic gates, the airport can serve 80% of the American population with just a two-hour flight, according to Business Insider. For those heading across the pond, there are 40 international gates and direct flights that rival John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport up north. Popular getaways like London, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, and Amsterdam all hover around the eight-hour mark with some change (for comparison, New York to similar destinations takes six to seven hours).
As the carrier's headquarters, Delta serves roughly 73% of passengers coming in and out of Atlanta airport, according to Global Atlanta. But there are plenty of other names in the mix, including 14 other major airlines and plenty of low-cost carriers. Sitting just across the Gulf of Mexico from Latin America, Atlanta is a natural choice for airlines with routes to popular sunkissed destinations, and both Copa Airlines and LATAM have added Atlanta to the roster. Frontier Airlines has expanded operations from Atlanta to Mexico, Central America, and nonstop flights to the Caribbean. If it's on your bucket list, chances are a flight from Atlanta can get you there.
Things to do at Atlanta airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the biggest employer in Georgia, with more than 300 businesses spread out between seven concourses, supplying endless entertainment in the form of restaurants, bars, shops, and spas. From the acclaimed sushi and craft cocktails at One Flew South in Concourse E to Ludacris' Chicken + Beer hotspot in Concourse D, there's something for everyone. If you need to stretch your legs and work off some pre-flight jitters, there are art installations and history exhibits to explore in Concourses A, B, and C. For a night-time layover, make it interesting at Jay-Z's nightclub in Concourse D, inspired by his original 40/40 Club in Manhattan.
Another great way to kill time is a massage or facial in the Be Relax Spa in Concourse B or XpressSpa in Concourses A, C, D, and E. You can also ditch the crowds in post-security Minute Suites, private retreats in Concourse B, E, or F with daybeds, minibars, and complimentary Wi-Fi and Netflix. Even if you're not a premium flier, the airport also has its own lounge option called Club ATL in Concourse F. The $50 day pass grants you refreshments, a cozy lounge, shower access, and workstations. Of course, airline loyalists are in luck, as there's a One Delta Sky Club in every concourse, a United Club in Concourse T, and an American Airlines Admirals Club in Concourse T. This airport is almost a destination in and of itself.